JASDF may be in the market for more F-35s

Just wanted to be clear, you don't have access to the IG report?

Remind me which of your sources have stated 2030 as the completion for F-15C retirement again? Pardon my eye sight but I don't seem to read it.

Your good at being smart but that's about all....Nonetheless, another member suggested the F-15C would retire like 2030. I replied that would "likely" be closer to the end not the beginning of it's retirement. Yet, a number of public sources some have suggested the F-15C will retire mid 2020's. Either way I am sure the specific plan will be released by the USAF very soon...

So the 2030 has no source other than what you or "other member" said. Which other member btw? I don't seem to read it also.

Just wanted to be clear, you don't have access to the IG report?

Remind me which of your sources have stated 2030 as the completion for F-15C retirement again? Pardon my eye sight but I don't seem to read it.

Your good at being smart but that's about all....Nonetheless, another member suggested the F-15C would retire like 2030. I replied that would "likely" be closer to the end not the beginning of it's retirement. Yet, a number of public sources some have suggested the F-15C will retire mid 2020's. Either way I am sure the specific plan will be released by the USAF very soon...

So the 2030 has no source other than what you or "other member" said. Which other member btw? I don't seem to read it also.

We've posted several sources that state the USAF is going to retire the F-15C early. Yet, we have acknowledge we don't have specific dates at this time. As the original IG Report from the USAF was redacted. This while some members including myself went on speculate when that retirement will likely occur. (early, mid, or late 2020's)

If, you have contrary information. Then we are all ears...........

No more Japanese built F-35's???


QUOTE: Defence officials also pointed out that Japan will stop using a final assembly and check-out (FACO) facility for the country’s F-35As from FY 2019 and start buying completed F-35As and F-35Bs to reduce procurement costs.


https://www.janes.com/article/85299/jap ... from_rss=1

:: Removed by the janitorial staff ::

QUOTE:

October 9, 2018

Defense’s 30-Year Aircraft Plan Reveals New Details

Each year, the Department of Defense issues a 30-year aviation plan, intended to chart the direction of the aviation enterprise. This plan is typically relatively short on specifics, in part because 30 years is rather far to foresee in detail, particularly as that goes 25 years beyond official defense budget projections.

By contrast, the most recent 30-year aviation plan released in April 2018 is full of details on specific programs, including cancellations, life extensions, and new starts. Some are explicit; others, between the lines. Some of the highlights follow.

Air Force
The Air Force previously announced plans to retire the air-superiority F-15C Eagle. But this plan declares an intention to refresh and extends the life of the F-15E Strike Eagles, the attack variant.

The Air Force has also decided to extend the life of its F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet. What do the F-15E and the F-16 have in common? They are both slated to be replaced by the F-35 Lightning II. This new plan may show the Air Force hedging in case F-35s do not arrive as fast as hoped and thus has to extend existing airframes to fill the gap. The target quantity of F-35s has not changed; the Air Force still expects to buy 1,763. But in case they do not arrive as quickly as anticipated, the Air Force seeks to update its older aircraft.

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/IF10999.pdf[/quote]

QUOTE:

(U) Retirement of F-15C Aircraft

(S) In February 2017, the DCS AF/A5/8 issued the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX to retire the F-15C aircraft beginning in XXXX and fully retire the aircraft by the end of XXXX. However, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX The XXXXXXXXXXX communicated the Air Force’s long-term strategic intention to build and sustain a capable, right-sized Air Force and directed program resource allocation. The DCS AF/A5/8 planned to use F-15C EPAWSS procurement funds to develop a higher priority Air Superiority program.


page 9

https://media.defense.gov/2018/May/25/2 ... 18-121.PDF

No more Japanese built F-35's???


QUOTE: Defence officials also pointed out that Japan will stop using a final assembly and check-out (FACO) facility for the country’s F-35As from FY 2019 and start buying completed F-35As and F-35Bs to reduce procurement costs.


https://www.janes.com/article/85299/jap ... from_rss=1

They should follow Italy's lead and change their FACO into a HVY Maint Depot for the Asian theater.

They should follow Italy's lead and change their FACO into a HVY Maint Depot for the Asian theater.

Didn't Australia already win such a contract for the Asian Region???

Mudhens may be the preferred (or only) delivery vehicle for the 5000lb GBU-28.

Japan Details 2019-23 Defense Plan Costs
14 Jan 2019 Bradley Perrett

"...Japan is planning to buy 45 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightnings in the five fiscal years, which will begin on April 1, 2019. Among them, 18 are supposed to be F-35Bs and the other 27 F-35As. In an evident misprint, the ministry estimates the average cost of 45 “F-35A” aircraft at ¥11.6 billion. It presumably means the average price for fighters of both versions...."

Source: http://aviationweek.com/defense/japan-d ... plan-costs

Two USAF F-15's were forced to make emergency landings at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa on Jan 15th............

http://alert5.com/2019/01/16/two-usaf-f ... me-runway/

Here Come Japan’s Aircraft Carriers
01 Feb 2019 Robert Farley

"The modification of the Izumos will upend nearly seven decades of defense thinking in Japan, and across East Asia.…

...The combination of the Izumos with the F-35B Lightning II stealth [strike? whynot sayit? CHINA?] fighter and the MV-22 Osprey transport may herald Japan’s return to serious naval competition in East Asia, with reverberations in South Korea, China, and the United States. It may also fundamentally change the identity and culture of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the rest of the Japanese armed forces....

...The opening two decades of the post-Cold War era saw the rapid proliferation of flat-decked aircraft-carrying warships with amphibious capabilities. A great number of navies began to see value in flat-decked ships that could conduct sea control missions, could show the flag around the world, and could offer a means for making an independent contribution to multilateral military and humanitarian operations. The large amphibious warships of the U.S. Navy made a big impact in Southeast Asia in the wake of the 2004 tsunami. [ https://science.howstuffworks.com/natur ... unami5.htm ] Tokyo was watching, as were Seoul and Beijing. That all three major powers in Northeast Asia began to invest in amphibs is not surprising, but Japan’s particular path seemed odd.... [NOT the full article which is behind a paywall]

Source: https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/here-co ... -carriers/

(U) Retirement of F-15C Aircraft

(S) In February 2017, the DCS AF/A5/8 issued the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX to retire the F-15C aircraft beginning in XXXX and fully retire the aircraft by the end of XXXX. However, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX The XXXXXXXXXXX communicated the Air Force’s long-term strategic intention to build and sustain a capable, right-sized Air Force and directed program resource allocation. The DCS AF/A5/8 planned to use F-15C EPAWSS procurement funds to develop a higher priority Air Superiority program.

So this means.... the F-15C stays?

Not entirely clear, with so much redacted..

Mudhens may be the preferred (or only) delivery vehicle for the 5000lb GBU-28.

The F-35's inner hard points are rated for 5000lb+.

Mudhens may be the preferred (or only) delivery vehicle for the 5000lb GBU-28.

The F-35's inner hard points are rated for 5000lb+.

Last time I saw the graphic showing all the various weapons to be qualified for the Panther... I do not recall seeing GBU-28's listed?

Mudhens may be the preferred (or only) delivery vehicle for the 5000lb GBU-28.

The F-35's inner hard points are rated for 5000lb+.

Last time I saw the graphic showing all the various weapons to be qualified for the Panther... I do not recall seeing GBU-28's listed?

There are a lot of weapons not currently integrated, but in Blocks 4/5/6/7.... I think we'll see all sorts of new weapons intergrated.