Commander Naval Air Forces wants more F/A-18s

element1loop · by **element1loop** » 04 Mar 2018, 03:00

wrightwing wrote:These are Devil's Advocate answers. IF they're keeping 4th generation aircraft, they may as well make them as survivable as possible.

Devil's alternative then, buy more F-35C faster, reset roles accordingly, and get the MQ-25 tanking on deck faster, and leave the SM6 in VLS. SH do EA and standoff weapon lugging to targets. Everything is made more survivable.

marauder2048 · by **marauder2048** » 04 Mar 2018, 09:43

Has the Super Hornet actually demonstrated multi-shot AIM-120 capability?

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 04 Mar 2018, 17:54

marauder2048 wrote:Has the Super Hornet actually demonstrated multi-shot AIM-120 capability?

One would hope so. That's one of the main capability increases over the sparrow, yes?

Interesting that in 2018 we're discussing upgrading the Super Hornet with CFT's etc to give it a greater capability in the fleet air defense role, when F-14D's were doing it better when delivered to the fleet in 1987...

ricnunes · by **ricnunes** » 04 Mar 2018, 21:07

marauder2048 wrote:Has the Super Hornet actually demonstrated multi-shot AIM-120 capability?

If I'm not mistaken a Hornet equipped with the AGP-73 radar can engage eight (8) targets with AMRAAMs simultaneously.
So I would say that a Super Hornet equipped with the APG-79 is capable of engaging at least the same number of targets simultaneously with AMRAAMs.

Tiger05 · by **Tiger05** » 05 Mar 2018, 00:11

mixelflick wrote:
marauder2048 wrote:Has the Super Hornet actually demonstrated multi-shot AIM-120 capability?

One would hope so. That's one of the main capability increases over the sparrow, yes?

Interesting that in 2018 we're discussing upgrading the Super Hornet with CFT's etc to give it a greater capability in the fleet air defense role, when F-14D's were doing it better when delivered to the fleet in 1987...

Same with the IRST. Boeing and the Navy are patting themselves on the back that the SH is finally getting an IRST while this was something the F-14D had from the onset back in 1990. And unlike the SH, the Tomcat's IRST was part of the aircraft, not this half-assed solution of putting it on an EFT...

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 05 Mar 2018, 03:51

Tiger05 wrote:
mixelflick wrote:
marauder2048 wrote:Has the Super Hornet actually demonstrated multi-shot AIM-120 capability?

One would hope so. That's one of the main capability increases over the sparrow, yes?

Interesting that in 2018 we're discussing upgrading the Super Hornet with CFT's etc to give it a greater capability in the fleet air defense role, when F-14D's were doing it better when delivered to the fleet in 1987...

Same with the IRST. Boeing and the Navy are patting themselves on the back that the SH is finally getting an IRST while this was something the F-14D had from the onset back in 1990. And unlike the SH, the Tomcat's IRST was part of the aircraft, not this half-assed solution of putting it on an EFT...

My question is when was the last kill attributed to an IFR System??? :wink:

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 05 Mar 2018, 17:13

Tiger05 wrote:
mixelflick wrote:
marauder2048 wrote:Has the Super Hornet actually demonstrated multi-shot AIM-120 capability?

One would hope so. That's one of the main capability increases over the sparrow, yes?

Interesting that in 2018 we're discussing upgrading the Super Hornet with CFT's etc to give it a greater capability in the fleet air defense role, when F-14D's were doing it better when delivered to the fleet in 1987...

Same with the IRST. Boeing and the Navy are patting themselves on the back that the SH is finally getting an IRST while this was something the F-14D had from the onset back in 1990. And unlike the SH, the Tomcat's IRST was part of the aircraft, not this half-assed solution of putting it on an EFT...

Do you think they realize any of this? Or is it that so much time has passed and the people with institutional memory are all gone. Retired, dead or otherwise?

It really is quite embarrassing...

35_aoa · by **35_aoa** » 06 Mar 2018, 05:30

mixelflick wrote:Do you think they realize any of this? Or is it that so much time has passed and the people with institutional memory are all gone. Retired, dead or otherwise?

It really is quite embarrassing...

Plenty of former Tomcat guys/gals still flying on active duty. The most junior of the Tomcat folks are currently beginning their squadron CO/XO tours. Many more in the O-6 and above ranks. Nobody has forgotten, it was just never a thing for the lightweight strike fighter that was never originally intended to ultimately fill the Tomcat/fleet defense role. It's certainly been a long time coming, once that mission set was defined for the SH years ago, but that's NAVAIR and acquisitions for you. To be fair, we have received a lot of much more important upgrades in those interim years, at great cost to the DoD and taxpayer.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 06 Mar 2018, 12:25

U.S. Navy $1.5B Wish List Includes Improved Super Hornet Engine
05 Mar 2018 Lara Seligman

"The U.S. Navy has sent a $1.5 billion wish list to Congress that includes millions to enhance the performance of the F/A-18 Super Hornet engine, buy additional E-2D Hawkeye early warning aircraft, and upgrade the EA-18G electronic aircraft’s electronic warfare ..." [dats all she could rit]

Source: http://aviationweek.com/awindefense/us- ... net-engine

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 06 Mar 2018, 15:14

Couldn't read article.... thrust increase? Finally?!?

ricnunes · by **ricnunes** » 06 Mar 2018, 15:36

mixelflick wrote:Couldn't read article.... thrust increase? Finally?!?

I would say that should be a must if the new version of the Super Hornet will always carry CFTs (plus that centerline EFT with the IRST).

However this is such a waste of money - The Navy should (only) procure F-35C instead.
This is like going back to the later part of 1950's and instead of simply procuring F-8 Crusaders and retiring the F-9F Panthers (which is what really happened) the US Navy would also procure new F-9F Panthers together with the F-8 Crusader. :roll:

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 06 Mar 2018, 16:02

Many comments complainingly asking why Navair just doesn't start buying F-35C's now, as it is ready NOW (i.e. LM can produce them NOW), and stop sinking $$ into F/A-18E/F Super Dupers.

Question: Is Navair ready for the F-35C NOW? If not, what is holding it up? Is it personnel training / standing up new squadrons or converting Hornet squadrons? Or are the boats not ready for the Sea Lightning for some reason? Is the switch to the CMV-22B for COD holding up the show? Or is Navair really that much in love with the Super Duper over the Lightning? Or is Navair practicing industrial base management by trying to ensure at least two airframers stay in business that can produce tactical combat aircraft?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 06 Mar 2018, 16:52

Navy to scrap scores of fighter jets from its inventory [BEST READ IT ALL AT SOURCE]
06 Mar 2018 David B. Larter

"The Navy is moving to scrap almost 140 older Hornet fighters from its inventory and accelerate transition to the newer Super Hornet models in a bid to cut the costs of maintaining old aircraft that have seen hard use over two decades of continuous combat operations. The Navy projects it will recoup the better part of a billion dollars over the next five years, money used to fund other readiness initiatives both in the beleaguered Naval Aviation enterprise and elsewhere.

The plan hashed out in June is to strike F/A-18 A through D models for a total of 136 Hornets, 66 of which will be gone by the end of 2020.... The Navy thinks this is an opportunity to get some useable spare parts for the in-service jets and help the Marine Corps out by sending it the best of the remaining aircraft....

...The service has been slow to buy its F-35C, citing development issues...."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/ ... inventory/

madrat · by **madrat** » 07 Mar 2018, 05:26

Meanwhile the brass all enjoyed their recent month-long 'safety meetings' at a 5-star hotel chain sponsored generously by Boeing.

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 07 Mar 2018, 05:32

spazsinbad wrote:
Navy to scrap scores of fighter jets from its inventory [BEST READ IT ALL AT SOURCE]
06 Mar 2018 David B. Larter

...The service has been slow to buy its F-35C, citing development issues...."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/ ... inventory/

Yah... I don't think that washes anymore. Somone might want to :poke:

the brass and let them know it's 2018... not 2015 anymore...