Posted on 09/09/2014 9:54:29 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Modifying the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter is part of what the U.S. Navy wants to discuss with contractors in a series of “technical interchange meetings” before it develops an analysis of alternatives (AoA) for a future carrier-based strike fighter.
In a September 9 solicitation, the Naval Air Systems Command (Navair) invited companies to participate in the meetings “for the purposes of trade space refinement” before it begins the AoA process next year. Navair said the solicitation is an addendum to the request for information (RFI) it issued in April 2012 for the FA-XX requirement to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and its EA-18G Growler derivative in the 2030 timeframe. The RFI described the future fighter as “complementary” to the F-35C carrier variant, which the Navy plans to declare operational in 2018, and an unmanned platform as envisioned by the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UClass) effort.
The RFI addendum states that technical meetings will focus on several areas, one of which is “modification of current platforms (F/A-18 and F-35C).” Among other areas of discussion will be a new start aircraft, recommended mission systems and future avionics technologies, and legacy versus new-start weapons.
We have planes that make the F-35C look like the Sopwith Camel, why are we dilly-dallying with this nonsense?
Lockheed has to be making HUGE payments to someone.
Which planes would that be?
This is possible, but nothing ready for production. Do you have other information?
IMHO, the Navy shot themselves in the foot with the capability gap between the F-14 and F-18 by dumping the Tomcat. The Super Hornet closed that gap a bit, but it is still there in spades. The F-35 does little to help things, being ground attack oriented. Pretty stupid to get rid of your only long range fighter without a replacement.
Long range fleet defense is sorely lacking and nothing coming up? Maybe it is back to the late 50's thinking that missiles will take care of everything.
no no no no no no no no no no +999,990 more
Mind-Controlled UAV Drones Being Developed in Texas for US Military
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mind-controlled-uav-drones-being-developed-texas-us-military-1463980
Blackswift Hypersonic Aircraft Cruises at Mach 6
http://www.dailytech.com/Blackswift+Hypersonic+Aircraft+Cruises+at+Mach+6/article8436c.htm
Unacknowledged Aviation: Brilliant Buzzard
http://www.openminds.tv/unacknowledged-aviation-brilliant-buzzard
Revealed: The Air Force’s top secret new spy drone with a 130 FOOT wingspan that is being tested in Area 51
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2519726/The-Air-Forces-new-secret-MEGA-stealth-plane-ALREADY-flying.html#ixzz3CtMG0ALG
Navy Drone Flies Alongside Fighter Jets
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/08/18/navy-drone-flies-alongside-fighter-jets.html
The low-cost fighters to serve tomorrow’s air forces
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140903-low-cost-fighter-jets-take-off
Won’t be missiles, will be lasers.
Might as well be talking about teleportation. Air Force spy drones do not help the Navy with fighter-attack issues 2ndDiv, nor do Mach 6 whatever.
Wonderful Secretary of Defense Dick Chaney ordered the tooling for the F14 to be destroyed back in the early 90s.
There are already “drone” aka UAV bombers, fighters, rescue, surveillance, patrol, special-ops, tanker, fire-fighting and supply aircraft. Just because the 6:00 O’Clock News doesn’t feature something doesn’t mean it ain’t out there. Being a pilot, except for recreation, stunts and that sort of thing is a dead-end career, like carriage maker and elevator operator. Will be wiped out in much less than 20 years. Talk to your “in-the-know” friends in technology and aviation, they’ll tell you.
Part suppliers spread throughout 50 states... it’s about politics not capabilities for the military.
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