USAF Plans for Radical F-35 Upgrade Reveal Obsolescence

DefenseAerospace.com ^ | April 8, 2015 | Giovanni de Briganti

[sukhoi-30mki]

Foreign buyers of the F-35A may not be aware that the US Air Force is already looking to upgrade its radar, avionics and engine because – a year before its IOC - the current aircraft already cannot match “rapid technology development by potential adversaries.” (USAF photo)

[sukhoi-30mki]

When other systems are upgraded, its capability augmentation, when the F-35 is upgraded, its obsolescence!

[tgusa]

What a POS.

[The Sons of Liberty]

USAF Plans for Radical F-35 Upgrade Reveal Obsolescence

What the Air Force really needs to upgrade are those that occupy positions at the top!

[Vendome]

I heard this crap in the 80’s about nearly every armament we had.

We out spent everyone else into irrelevance.

[rbg81]

The US has enjoyed air superiority for so long, we’ve taken it for granted. Getting our clock cleaned in an air war would be a real wake-up call.

Part of the problem is the acquisition process. These long development cycles almost guarantee that what finally comes out will be obsolete.

[Arm_Bears]

Where do we, the taxpayers who funded this Edsel, go to get our money back?

[Iron Munro]

There must be some darn good lobbyists from the avionics industry working overtime out there.

[DemforBush]

And this bird was supposed to be a “relatively inexpensive” complement to the F-22.

I lay this mostly at the feet of those who thought the F-35 airframe could be all things to all service branches. Especially those who thought adding STOVL variant (F-35B) would not present significant technical challenges. In hindsight (which always has perfect clarity, LOL), it probably would have been more cost effective to design a completely separate aircraft for the Marines and the Brits)

Of course, that’s not how things work in the Pentagon, but you know, JMHO.

[PapaBear3625]

It would also be nice if mounting/connections were standardized so that components could be continually upgraded and fitted among multiple airframes. So that a radar upgrade developed for the F-15 could also be fitted into the F-35 (and vice-versa).

[aegiscg47]

While I agree that the acquisition and procurement process is extremely outdated and inefficient, who else on the planet is going to defeat the U.S. in an air war? There simply aren't any foreseeable opponents who have the aircraft, technology, training, or operational experience to pull that off. The F-22 and F-35 in tandem will easily be able to defeat any opponent put up against them at this time. Other nations are racing to catch up, but the results haven't been very good so far.

[SpeakerToAnimals]

I lay this mostly at the feet of those who thought the F-35 airframe could be all things to all service branches.

F-111 and McNamara all over again.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Procurement is a nightmare. The first operational jet fighter, the P-80 Shooting Star was delivered by Lockheed in 143 days.

[ExTxMarine]

This is what happens when you try to build a one-size-fits-all solution for three VERY DIFFERENT branches of the Armed Services!

Different branches, with different needs, different combat roles, and different purposes need DIFFERENT equipment! PERIOD!

[taxcontrol]

LOL you and I had the same thought. Seems the military never learns from the past and the Air Force never learns the value of mission specific aircraft.

[KarlInOhio]

One thing that I didn't see in the article was whether the radar upgrade is needed right now or if this is just the beginning of a ten year plan. Our adversaries will be constantly improving and we can't wait until they have passed us to start thinking about an upgrade.

"There's a lot of work to be done,” Harrigian said “but from where we sit, we're on the right glide path to IOC.”

Glide path? Maybe the engines needed to be started on the whole project a long time ago.

[Don Corleone]

As in all cases of high end military procurement decisions....FOLLOW the MONEY!!!

[rbg81]

Well, that was back in the 1950s right? Systems today are a lot more complicated. But I still think we should be able to field new jets in 5-8 years, not decades. The acquisition process we have is very cautious and, as a result, stretches out the process to an almost absurd time frame.

[armydawg505]

Meanwhile the decision not to buy more F22s looks more and more like a disaster brought to you by Barack Obama.....who else could it be?

[ExTxMarine]

While I agree that the acquisition and procurement process is extremely outdated and inefficient, who else on the planet is going to defeat the U.S. in an air war?

Lobbyists ALWAYS sell the latest, greatest, fastest, shiniest, bull$hit! But, Congress always seems to forget that a great, skilled pilot, even in a mediocre aircraft, will ALWAYS beat the latest, greatest, shiniest, etc...!

We often forget that the F4-Phantom (basically a flying school bus) was designed and built in the early 1950's, but was able to splash 107, smaller, faster, newer Mig jets during Vietnam! Give me a good, well trained pilot in a steadfast, reliable, 20 year old aircraft, and I will give you one of the deadliest weapons on earth!