Should The F-22 be cancelled?

26-nov,2004 | Me

[Haro_546]

Yes. This type of aircraft has no place in the modern battlefield and Foreseeable conflicts. The money could be put into more usefull sistems (each unit cost about $235 million for 239 planes) Whats your opinion?

[Quix]

I am glad there's an overwhelming amount (95-98%?) of truth in what you wrote.

I wish it were 100% of the picture. I don't know what parts the missing parts will ultimately play. I doubt anyone but God, knows that.

[Quix]

Not at all.

[Red6]

You are rounding up here and we are quite away from production. The over weight is for one specific model (I forget if it was the B or the C version?). I’m pretty sure it was one version with the weight issues?

I don’t think the F35 is really in any development trouble.

Red6

[Gunrunner2]

Thanks for the ping.

Started at the top and began to have at it.

It quickly became apparent that the original poster is a fluff ball when it comes to this area and not worthy of the effort. . .and then when the ET crowd showed up . . .WOW. . . now that really knocked me laughing off the table.

I tell ya, between fluff ball (troll/rat), and the UFO's-are-here-and-they-gave-us-velcro guy. . .this is way too weird for me.

Fun to read though. . .just not worth the effort to post much.

Thanks again for the ping, I mean that, and feel free to do so again.

[Quix]

I sure hope the Navy gets a super advanced carrier craft reasonably soon.

What's your prediction on that score?

One of my bosses was a two tour Nam carrier based wing CDR. Ejected 2 or 3 times and lived through them fine. Never got captured. Had an office next to CNO at one time. Really sharp fellow.

[Gunrunner2]

Maybe. . .just came back from a JSF conference in VA (about a month ago).

Still lots of weight issues.

But then again, who knows.

[matchwood]

It might sound dumb today to spend that kind of money when our military efforts are directed towards fighting low tech terrorists.

However when the Chinese dragon rears it's head between now and 2020, we will be extremely happy our leaders bought that F-22.

[Long Cut]

Hey, no prob. I was hoping to get the thread back on a factual track, and sideline the X-Files crap.

I'm really curious now about the F-35. I was under the strong impression, from Pukin Dog and other sources, that it was dead. Now I'm not so sure.

I DO know that we in the Marittime Patrol community are slated to get a new bird in 2012 or so. I really hope we do; our ORIONs, bless 'em, are getting too temperamental in their old age.

[Gunrunner2]

Until a few other weight issues are solved it still remains questionable if it will be fielded.

I don't think it will be cut, per se, if only because we have foreign military sales supporting this purchase and the development of the technology.

All new systems have problems, the F-35 has more than it's share.

The R&D we are reaping from its development is priceless for further advances.

I think the F-35 like we know it will be a very short run, very limited production and most sales going overseas.

But that's just me talking.

[NoClones]

the y-23 should be resurrected - it had superior performance, maneuverability & was faster as well.

[airborne]

Any insight you might offer on this?

---

Boeing Receives First Engines for X-45C Unmanned Combat Aircraft

ST. LOUIS, November 18, 2004 - The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Company accepted the first two engines for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) X-45C aircraft program Nov. 10 in a ceremony held at a General Electric plant in Lynn, Mass.

Boeing is building three X-45C aircraft in St. Louis as part of the J-UCAS program. Each of the aircraft will be powered by a single F404 engine.

"With the F404 engine, the X-45C will be able to fly a combat radius of more than 1,200 nautical miles, cruise at 0.80 Mach, reach altitudes of 40,000 feet and carry a 4,500 pound weapon payload," said Darryl Davis, Boeing J-UCAS X-45 vice president and program manager. "With that range, speed, and lethality, this unmanned system is truly revolutionary."

The first X-45C flight is scheduled for early 2007, with the initiation of an operational assessment by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy beginning that same year. The assessment will culminate in a demonstration of the capabilities of the J-UCAS system and the X-45's ability to conduct suppression of enemy air defenses; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and strike missions.

The X-45C will be 39-feet long with a 49-foot wingspan. It is designed to be a highly-survivable weapons system that will include advanced sensors and a robust communication system demonstrating advanced target detection and engagement capabilities.

The J-UCAS X-45 program is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/U.S. Air Force/U.S. Navy/Boeing effort to demonstrate the technical feasibility, military utility and operational value of an unmanned air combat system for the Services.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis , Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides network-centric systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense and Department of Homeland Security; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.

[airborne]

It looks sweet!

[Long Cut]

Too late for that. Besides, if it had won the flyoffs, it'd be pretty much at the place the F-22 is now anyway, maybe even further behind, as it had not yet incorporated the vectoring jet nozzles.

[Pukin Dog]

However, it has become a playground for someone else, who does not apparently live in "our" reality. Too bad.

Maybe I just have a special talent for knowing when a thread is about to turn to dog poo. This one sadly, had NO chance. I posted only because you asked me, but I saw where this one was headed right out of the gate.

[Pukin Dog]

And you are just the worst kind of condescending asshole that I have ever seen on Free Republic. There is SO much that you don't know, it is painful to read your BS.

[Long Cut]

Some of us are trying to recover from the spin.

So, what're ya hearing on the F-35? There's some dispute.

[Pukin Dog]

I don’t think the F35 is really in any development trouble.

Mind if I bookmark this for later? LOL! Man, you are SO wrong.

[Quix]

Ahhhhh, your sweetness is showing . . .

again.

[Pukin Dog]

I was under the strong impression, from Pukin Dog and other sources, that it was dead.

Sometimes, dead things still have convulsions long after they have stopped breathing.

[StoneFury]

Airpower doesn't win house-to-house fighting.

House-to-house fighting doesn't win air superiority.