US Navy Reluctant to Build Sixth Generation Jet After F-35 Fiasco, Naval Operations Chief Says[
er ... what F-35 "fiasco" would this be?]
Tech. Sgt. Ryan Campbell
MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE
02:16 GMT 14.10.2020 (updated 02:20 GMT 14.10.2020)
WASHINGTON (
Sputnik) - The US military does not have the time or money to waste on any ill-thought-out, enormously expensive and long-delayed sixth-generation fighter plane project like the F-35 fifth-generation jet, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Michael Gilday told a Defence One State of the Navy podcast on Tuesday.
When asked, Gilday refused to commit to any decision to push ahead with plans for any ambitious sixth-generation combat aircraft to replace the controversial,
expensive and still problem-plagued F-35 jet.
[
I suppose the much lower capability back-of-the-bus BKIII Shornet may be a bit cheaper, but still, it's extremely over-priced compared to what an F-35C brings to combat capabilities.]
"The F-35A flew around 2000 - That's a whole generation [ago]", Gilday said. "We can't wait till 2045 or 2050, if we're going to make the investment in the multiple billions [of dollars]. We don't have time to wait or money to waste". Instead, Gilday indicated that the Navy would focus on other spending priorities.
[
Yeah, like investment in new naval aircraft designs will like, stop...]
"My job is to maximise naval power. We are making a lot of cuts to put money in shipbuilding. I can't be buying stuff just to buy it", Gilday said. Earlier, media reported that the US Air Force has already secretly designed, built and flown at least one prototype of a next-generation fighter
to replace the long-troubled F-35.
[
Really? Replace the F-35B/C? Pure propaganda BS.]
The F-35 military programme, the most expensive one in history, continues to suffer major problems, according to official reports. The Fiscal Year 2019 Operational Test report found the aircraft still had 873 unresolved deficiencies, including 13 Category 1 items that could endanger its survival.
[
... Stay on target! ... ]
https://sputniknews.com/military/202010 ... hief-says/