F-35 Too Expensive: US Air Force Might Buy 72 New F-15 or F-16 Fighter Jets

The Diplomat ^ | November 21, 2015 | Franz-Stefan Gady

[sukhoi-30mki]

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter might not be produced in sufficient numbers to maintain the U.S. Air Force’s current operational capabilities due to budgetary constraints, according to Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. As a result the service is considering filling the capabilities gap with 72 Boeing F-15s, Lockheed-Martin F-16’s, or even Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

“F-15s and F-16s are now expected to serve until 2045, when an all-new aircraft will be ready, and plans to modernize F-16s with active electronically scanned array radars and other improvements are being revived,” the article states.

U.S. Air Force officials and industry officials revealed as much at the Defense IQ International Fighter Conference, which took place November 17-19 in London. The U.S. Air Force “is struggling to afford 48 F-35s a year” for the first years of full-rate production a senior Air Force officer told Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.

Full rate-production is slated to begin in 2019 and the U.S. Air Force wants to buy 60 planes in 2020, and 80 F-35 per year after that. This year, the Air Force is to receive 28 F-35s, whereas in 2016 the number is slated to increase to 44. By 2038, the service wants to have 1763 F-35 aircraft in service. However, this procurement schedule might not be financially feasible for the Air Force.

“Consequently, F-15s and F-16s will serve longer and will outnumber F-35s and F-22s through the late 2020s,” Aerospace Daily &Defense Report notes. The article furthermore explains:

The service is looking at a three-tier force, with 300 F-16s and some F-15s being modernized “to augment the F-35 and F-22 in a high-end fight” and others assigned to low-end operations, while the contemplated 72-aircraft buy (an Air Force wing) would sustain force numbers and provide additional modern aircraft.

Interestingly, a senior U.S. Air Force official revealed that “the last time we looked, this was more expensive than buying F-35s in bulk.” However, he confirmed that the option of purchasing 72 aircraft is nevertheless still on the table.

The U.S. Air Force has already asked for cost estimates on procuring new F-15s and life-extension/upgrade options. “Also under consideration is a plan to augment U.S. Air Force electronic attack capabilities by fitting some F-15Es with a version of the Raytheon Next Generation Jammer pod,” the article states.

Overall, the Pentagon is planning to procure 2,457 aircraft by 2038. Total acquisition costs are estimated at over $400 billion making it the U.S. military’s most expensive acquisition program. Operation and support costs throughout the aircraft’s lifetime are estimated at over a $1 trillion.

The supersonic fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter exists in three variants: The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant for the U.S. Navy; the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant for the U.S. Marine Corps, and the F-35C carrier-suitable variant for the U.S. Navy.

[drunknsage]

It’s not and never will be. The F22 has half and maybe less of the weapons load.... Ooooooohhh it’s got stealth!!! Which is then defeated with old style radar that the Russians have been mass producing to beat US hocus pocus woo woo bullshit tech that the rest of the world has caught on to. How do you think the f117 was shot down?

The f22 is an air superiority fighter only. It makes little sense to use it in anything but this role considering the f15 kills it in A2G and it’s so expensive it’s simply not worth flying in anything but a specialized mission / role.

The F35 is a turkey and those responsible for the program should be in jail including congress members. As usual, just like with the F4, military planners are planning for wars that never happen and relying on tech that just isn’t and may never be there. Remember when they took the gun off the F4 and relied on missiles that barely worked? It’s that all over again with this bullshit stealth and over reliance on woo tech.

In our current role, we don’t even need the a10. The bronco or the super tucano will do just fine. The A10 is t being fixed anytime ever. It either needs replacement or a new design based on the standards it set for CAS. We have been fighting COIN for 50 years with golden hammers and that needs to stop and the military needs to be flushed of the losers who can’t come to reality and meet current actual needs. Air Force doesn’t like CAS, fire them. Marines insist on VTOL, fire them. It is that simple and it needs to be done. Flush to culture of losers.

[Mariner]

The F-15 can STILL defeat anything in the sky except the F-22.

[Red Badger]

It’s a moot point now that we are stuck with the F-35 for the near future. I’m sure the Powers-That-Be are readying a replacement in the Skunkworks that will be even more expensive and less reliable. Perhaps we should do like they did in WWII, build F-15’s and F-16’s in so many units that they would become almost cheap by the truckload...............

[phormer phrog phlyer]

Agree with most of your post, having A-29/OV-10’s makes a great deal of sense in a low threat environment. A few squadrons of these would provide the taxpayer some value and get the job done of putting ordinance on target.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Could be worse—they might elect to buy Mig-35s.

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

IMHO, the F-15 is one of the most versatile and capable combat aircraft in the history of U.S. military aviation history. I would prefer to see a modernization of the original F-15 concept than an entirely new concept that fails miserably (like the F-35).

If the design ain't broken, no need to fix it...

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

"IMHO, the F-15 is one of the most versatile and capable combat aircraft in the history of U.S. military aviation history. I would prefer to see a modernization of the original F-15 concept than an entirely new concept that fails miserably (like the F-35)."

Oops.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Yep. Perhaps F-22 exceeds budget. I think F/A-18E/F's are the way to go. Perhaps a mix of F/A-18's and F-15 Super Eagles are the way to go.

How could anyone NOT love the F/A-18, a timeless thing of beauty?

[Lee Enfield]

If Boeing could put together a 15SE with strengthening and salt proofing it would be a contender against the 35C. I love the 14s but that train has left too long ago.

[thackney]

I was being facetious. Sheesh.

Sorry, I had just read about them lost right before I saw your comment.

[M Kehoe]

No need to be sorry. We all should be mad as hell.

5.56mm

[Red Badger]

‘Stealth’ is good only until someone figures out a way to see it........................

[CivilWarBrewing]

I’m not a big fan of single engine aircraft (F-35). I would opt for the F-22, but for ‘bang for the buck’ a few F/A-18’s and F-15’s.

[Oztrich Boy]

[sukhoi-30mki]

The F/A-18 is a new type for the USAF. The F-15/16 have been in service for ages so the USAF and its personnel are very familiar with them and have a well-oiled logistics framework in place. A new type aircraft would have higher costs (esp if the number is likely to be low) and would take longer to induct and put into operation.