Fast Five With U.S. Air Force Chief Gen. Dave Goldfein

[spazsinbad]

Fast Five With U.S. Air Force Chief Gen. Dave Goldfein
01 Feb 2019 Lee Hudson

"Gen. Dave Goldfein became chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force in July 2016, after serving as vice chief of staff. He talked to Pentagon Editor Lee Hudson aboard an Air Force C-37A about his vision for the aerial tanker refueling fleet, fighter aircraft inventory and the light attack experiment....

...If the Air Force purchases the F-15X, does this mean you are reducing the F-35 buy?
You won’t find a stronger proponent for the F-35 than me. If there is a discussion on the continuation of fourth-gen, it will not come at the expense of the F-35. We have a program of record that is solid. If the budget is successful, not only do we keep the F-35 program on track, we actually add money to bring on more capability. There’s four fourth-generation weapons systems that we need to fly into the 2030s as we build up the F-35—the F-16, F-15E, A-10 and F-15C.

Of those, one, the F-15C, is not going to make it. It’s old and we’re reaching the point where the cost of keeping it airborne is well beyond a sensible business case. I’ve got to refresh the F-15C. We’ve got to have capacity to build the Air Force we need. That’s the issue: How do we refresh the F-15C on top of the F-35 buy to ensure that we keep the capacity and the missions the nation requires of us?

How will the F-35 be used in a future fight?
I’m thinking through how I can message an adversary so that when I sense that they’ve actually seen an F-35, I can then send a message that will show up on all of their screens [altering] their screensavers. When they log in it says, “We’re here,” not “I’m here, ” because if they ever see an F-35—which is highly unlikely—I guarantee it is not alone. “We’re here in space, have been for awhile and are watching you. We’re here in high-altitude, unmanned, roaming where we need to. We’re here with the B-21; it’s about to wreak havoc and there’s nothing you can do about it. We’re here with other elements of the joint team, with the special forces team and there are Marines on the beach. We’re here."

The F-35 is the weapon system designed to be the quarterback of the joint team that fuses information in ways that we have never accomplished before. We are not going to integrate the F-35 into the joint team; we’re going to integrate the joint team into the F-35."

Source: http://aviationweek.com/defense/fast-fi ... e-goldfein

[popcorn]

Gen. Goldfein needs to work on message brevity. "Sucks to be you" would suffice.

Re F-15X not impacting F-35 buys, Trump is already mandating a 5% cut to the defense budget. So it's an iffy proposition that there will be adequate funding in future budgets.

[quicksilver]

Not affecting F-35 buys? Is it special money that can only be spent on F-15s? The F-35 annual buy was supposed to be 60 or more per annum by this time. Can they get F-15s quicker? Only if the USAF gets to cut in line and take jets intended for ME customers. Oh...but that means the USAF is getting the same capability as those customers. No, they have special stuff for the USAF...oh really? Tested when and where?

Unbelievable.

[crosshairs]

Not affecting F-35 buys? Is it special money that can only be spent on F-15s? The F-35 annual buy was supposed to be 60 or more per annum by this time. Can they get F-15s quicker? Only if the USAF gets to cut in line and take jets intended for ME customers. Oh...but that means the USAF is getting the same capability as those customers. No, they have special stuff for the USAF...oh really? Tested when and where?

Unbelievable.

Remember the free Obama phones? Must be from the same bank account.

[spazsinbad]

Here is an explanation which may or may not make sense given the timeline for capacity for building F-35s in future?

F-15X in, Light Attack Out in FY20 Budget
01 Feb 2019 John A. Tirpak

"...On the F-15X, Bunch said USAF must confront the fact that “our fourth generation fleet is aging out.” He reminded the audience that during last year’s budget testimony, he and Lt. Gen. Jerry Harris, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, talked about “what steps we need to do to look at our F-15C fleet.” Bunch said “we are getting to the point where we have to make a decision of how we are either going to upgrade it, and pay for the upgrades, or do a Service Life Extension” Program.

Assuming the budget “stays the way we anticipate, we’ll buy some F-15s to replace” the oldest Eagles in the fleet. “We are doing the upgrades, we are doing what we need to do to address that future threat, but we have to be able to execute the NDS [National Defense Strategy] … in the timeline that we’re working.”

Air Force officials said privately the NDS demands certain levels of force structure that can’t be achieved on the timelines it requires by buying more F-35s, which would take some time to deliver. Boeing is building F-15s for foreign customers, however, and could potentially deliver the aircraft faster, especially if foreign customers agree to let USAF buy earlier aircraft off the line. Buying more reduces the unit cost for everyone, and USAF can “leverage the investments made by our allies” in upgrades to the F-15, one official said. Those upgrades have been tested by USAF, at the expense of foreign users, at Edwards AFB, Calif.

Bunch emphasized, however, that “We’re not backing away from the F-35 in any way, shape, or form.” The F-35, he said, is “critical” to “execute the missions of the National Defense Strategy” and to be able to “operate in that threat environment” of the future. “And we’re committed to that program.” Bunch declined to comment about USAF’s long-standing insistence that it will buy no “new old” aircraft, and will put all available fighter dollars toward buying fifth-generation aircraft."

Source: http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pag ... udget.aspx

[spazsinbad]

Another reason why the F-15 prolly needs updating along with the F-22 - an oldie but a goldie - would've been put here:
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=5525&p=410758#p410758 [but locked now]

Critical Ingredient in Short Supply
March 2016 John A. Tirpak

“...Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III has said on numerous occasions the shortage of F-22s means the Air Force will rely on the F-35 to achieve air superiority in future conflicts much more than originally planned. Even though the F-35 was to be a multirole jet & not a dedicated dogfighter, Anhalt said it will be superior to the F-15 in the air-to-air regime.

“As threats continue to evolve... having stealth is basically your ticket to get into the fight, and if you don’t have stealth, you will not be there,” he said. “I sit in the vault with the F-35 requirements guys, and we have discussions every single day about how we’re going to be complementary to each other, and how we can attack this problem as we move into the future.”

Similar to its communications problems with F-15s, F-16s, and other 4th gen fighters, the Raptor also cannot securely communicate with the F-35. This issue will be answered circa 2020 with the Link 16 solution. “It just makes sense for us [F-22] to get Link 16,” Anhalt said....”

Source: http://secure.afa.org/joinafa/AFMag0316 ... lissue.pdf (19.9Mb)

[Corsair1963]

Gen. Goldfein needs to work on message brevity. "Sucks to be you" would suffice.

Re F-15X not impacting F-35 buys, Trump is already mandating a 5% cut to the defense budget. So it's an iffy proposition that there will be adequate funding in future budgets.

Most expect future defense budgets to decline. Especially, now that the Democrats have control of the US House. So, just funding the F-35 to sufficient levels. Could be enough of a challenge!

[steve2267]

Most expect future defense budgets to decline. Especially, now that the Democrats have control of the US House. So, just funding the F-35 to sufficient levels. Could be enough of a challenge!

The amount of money the US spends every year to support people who are not its citizens is no small amount. I wonder if that would make up for a 5% defense cut, fund the expansion of the USAF to the size required to support the NDS?

[steve2267]

Critical Ingredient in Short Supply
March 2016 John A. Tirpak

...

Similar to its communications problems with F-15s, F-16s, and other 4th gen fighters, the Raptor also cannot securely communicate with the F-35. This issue will be answered circa 2020 with the Link 16 solution. “It just makes sense for us [F-22] to get Link 16,” Anhalt said....”

Source: http://secure.afa.org/joinafa/AFMag0316 ... lissue.pdf (19.9Mb)

So any hope for MADL on the F-22 is.... gone?

[spazsinbad]

Probably there is a reference better than wickedpedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multifunc ... _Data_Link
&
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011 ... e-033111w/ [no workee now]

"...As of 2010, the Air Force has canceled upgrade plans for the F-22 to receive MADL citing technology maturity risks...."

[spazsinbad]

The Air Force Wants to Buy More F-15X Jets, and It’s a Huge Mistake
08 Feb 2019 John Venable

"1 Last Friday, the Air Force announced plans to buy Boeing’s F-15X, based on the jet’s capabilities and comparatively low costs when stacked against the F-35A....

...3 In the unforgiving world of conflict, investments have to deliver viable combat capability, and in that regard the F-15X falls well short of the mark.…

...The Air Force needs to acquire at least 72 fighters a year just to offset jets that are aging out. The largest number of F-35s it plans to purchase in any given year is 60, starting in 2026, and there’s no question the service needs to buy more jets. So does it make sense for the USAF to buy the F-15X?...

...At first blush, it’s hard to see how the F-15X could be cheaper — but for just argument’s sake, let’s say the Air Force could both buy and operate the F-15X below the price of the F-35. Are the capabilities of the F-15X even worthy of the investment?...

...As envisioned, the F-15X will include all those improvements [detailed earlier], while carrying a veritable arsenal of air-to-ground and air-to-air munitions including up to 22 air-to-air missiles. With both conformal and external drop tanks, the jet has a range of 600 miles, equaling that of an F-35A.

Many, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, talk of the F-15X as a replacement for the Air Force’s F-15C. Unfortunately, the added weight and drag of the modifications that give the F-15X its superb range and suite of capabilities have also caused it to lose the agile handling characteristics and favorable thrust-to-weight ratio associated with its older, air superiority sibling.

The F-15X is an updated version of the F-15E, and six active duty pilots I have interviewed who have flown both that jet and the F-35 state the former could never survive in a modern day, high-threat environment, and that it would be soundly defeated by an F-35 in almost any type of air-to-air engagement. That strongly suggests buying the F-15X in lieu of the F-35 would be a very poor choice....

...the Air Force needs to buy 72 fighters a year just to keep pace with aircraft retirements, not to mention address the need to grow new squadrons as Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson has said is required. For the reasons described above, Congress should be very skeptical of plans to buy a legacy fighter such as the F-15X and, at the very least, debate the idea of expanding F-35 production capacity to meet the needs of the Air Force. The cost of any new fighter we acquire should allow us to take the fight to the enemy on our terms for the next quarter-century."

Source: https://www.heritage.org/defense/commen ... ge-mistake

[popcorn]

So much for "Invest in the future, not in the past".

[crosshairs]

So much for "Invest in the future, not in the past".

Who was that in the 90s that said we are not buying any more aluminum airplanes?

[steve2267]

Searched but didn't find this article mentioned anywhere... And since the F-15X thread got locked up, I plunk this here:

Air Force Didn’t Ask for New F-15s, But Needs to Bolster Fighter Buy
2/28/2019 —John A. Tirpak

There are new F-15s in the Air Force’s fiscal year 2020 budget, but the service didn’t ask for them, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson revealed Thursday.

The add was made by other entities to meet force structure capacity demanded by the National Defense Strategy, she and other top service leaders said, and buying more F-35s is seen as not affordable just now, chiefly because of the sustainment cost.

< much more at the jump >

http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/February%202019/Air-Force-Didnt-Ask-for-New-F-15s-But-Needs-to-Bolster-Fighter-Buy.aspx

I would like to know more about these "sustainment cost" disparities... especially since Ng Eng Hen, the Singapore Defense Minister, stated

He also told Parliament that the total cost of ownership of an F-35 fleet including maintenance across its lifespan will be similar to Singapore’s current fleet of Boeing F-15SG Eagles. He added, however, that the Defence Ministry “will continue to work with the U.S. Department of Defense to optimize operating and maintenance costs.”

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/avalon/2019/03/01/singapore-moves-to-buy-four-f-35s-possibly-eight-more-afterward/

[marsavian]

Discussed earlier viewtopic.php?p=412922#p412922