Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Quote:

This change in LM's stance is basically just semantics.

That's certainly something to think about. Many precedents have been set, lately. Unit price goes up, and units actually purchased go down. Maybe this is LM's way of combating that. If they say the F-35 is a good replacement for the F-15, then maybe the US military will stick to the planned number of planes they're going to buy, or actually buy more. I know this is going to sound like a knock against the USAF and LM, but at only 186 F-22s, attrition alone is going to significantly reduce that fleet over the next 20 years in my opinion (sh*t just happens). We might as well buy more F-35As.

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SpudmanWP wrote:

IMHO, the upgrades for the F-22 will act as a greater force multiplier than the same money spent on the F-35 program. I think they should work on QWIP sensors for the F-22 IRST and use the lessons learned to upgrade the F-35 IRST later down the road (ie after Block 5).

Better question: Why does it have to be either and not both?

Good post. Only finalized Increment 3.2 upgrades and then, 3.3 will tell.

Rapec - I agree with your analysis. Good contribution to discussion.

lampshade111 wrote:

Perhaps if those F-35s can carrying three or four AAMs (including the AIM-9X) in each weapons bay. Otherwise I would rather go with a heavily upgraded F-15.

A major redesign of the F-35 allowing for supercruise and increased maneuverability? Again building more F-22s would make the most sense. Now why can't Gates see that?

Because he is wise. The "Ramptor"; at 130 million/per copy, has not shot or dropped anything in the 5 years its been operationally capable.

Nothing, nada, zip...the "Ramptor" has done squat, and the military planners realize that. At a cost of $20k+ per flight hour, this airframe is out-dated, unproductive, and un-sustainable. Period-dot.

The F-22 boat has sailed, let that dead-dog lay...accept reality that the F-22
is yesterday's news.

rossdawg16 wrote:

lampshade111 wrote:

Perhaps if those F-35s can carrying three or four AAMs (including the AIM-9X) in each weapons bay. Otherwise I would rather go with a heavily upgraded F-15.

A major redesign of the F-35 allowing for supercruise and increased maneuverability? Again building more F-22s would make the most sense. Now why can't Gates see that?

Because he is wise. The "Ramptor"; at 130 million/per copy, has not shot or dropped anything in the 5 years its been operationally capable.

Nothing, nada, zip...the "Ramptor" has done squat, and the military planners realize that. At a cost of $20k+ per flight hour, this airframe is out-dated, unproductive, and un-sustainable. Period-dot.

The F-22 boat has sailed, let that dead-dog lay...accept reality that the F-22
is yesterday's news.

Strange that, how do you, in your clearly expert opinion account for the 100% sortie rates at Red Flag:
http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_posting- ... 69321.html

and a 97% sortie rate in Northern Edge:
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Lockhee ... n_999.html

Nothing is perfect, the Raptor now attains around a 70% sortie rate, see:
http://www.afa.org/edop/2009/edop_7-13-09.asp

Infact, whilst you're there why don't you read the whole, rather excellent article and perhaps you will realise just how silly your above post was when the facts are debunked and put into perspective... Thumb

I guess the Raptor does cost a lot to fly. Since we don't even have 200 of them I image they would go through tons of additional scheduled/periodic maintenance inspections to make sure they don't fall out of the sky. I'm thinking more than your typical F-16 or F-15. If one aircraft is lost, that's the equivalent of losing a squadron of 4th generation fighters right? Not to mentioned $140 million or so. Now if we had 1000 F-22s in the USAF, then maybe they'd cost a lot less to operate. More Raptors in the fleet would mean more operational experience a lot sooner in my opinion. That alone could be used to drive down operational costs in a shorter time period. I'll bet the $20k per flight hour cost will go as part of a natural maintenance/operational evolution. F-22 OR rates are sure to increase as well. My two cents...

Forum: F-35 Lightning II

LM sees F-35A replacing USAF air superiority F-15C/D's