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Message
USAF looking for a low cost light attack fighter for the war on terror
Posted on 1/20/17 at 6:55 am
Posted on 1/20/17 at 6:55 am
quote:
“These aircraft could conduct counterterrorism operations, perform close-air support and other missions in permissive environments, and help to season pilots to mitigate the Air Force’s fighter pilot shortfall,” McCain said. His comments echo those of officials such as Lt. Gen. James “Mike” Holmes, the service’s deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, who recently said the aircraft could help dilute the fighter pilot shortage and gradually increase readiness.
quote:
The additional light attack aircraft — which would not replace the service’s beloved A-10 Warthog — “would relieve the pressure on other aircraft, maintenance crews, [and] it would give us some turning space with our other combat platforms,” Thomas said.
LINK
Makes sense to me. With the dates mentioned, there won't be an end to fighting terrorism any times soon...
16
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:00 am to Spaceman Spiff
Lockheed = 
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:02 am to knight_ryder
Yep. F-35 is DOA if that happens
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:04 am to CunningLinguist
quote:
Yep. F-35 is DOA if that happens
I wonder if all of this is due to the F-35s issues and that of Trump's call out of it.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:30 am to Spaceman Spiff
Just need an updated F-16 like platform
Internal weapon storage and stealth is not needed fighting goat herders, we need to invest in EW not stealth
Internal weapon storage and stealth is not needed fighting goat herders, we need to invest in EW not stealth
This post was edited on 1/20/17 at 7:32 am
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:38 am to Spaceman Spiff
quote:
USAF
Great guys. Love them. Can't live without them.
quote:
low cost
They don't have access to a dictionary with a reasonable definition of this. If they did, they could not comprehend that definition.
"Low cost" is just not something they can do,IMHO. (Navy either, for that matter.)
Now - all that aside, this is PR spin (something they're very good at) for this: "The F-35 project has so fricked us, we're in disbelief about it. We know that drones are going to put a lot of our guys out of work. We need a program to save as many pilot billets as we can. We get that the nation is getting budget conscious - happens after every Dem administration it seems - so, we'll try to sell this new boondoggle on a 'cost' basis."
That's what happens when you get an air superiority plane that is so costly that you can barely afford half of them - THEN double down on that with your workhorse replacement and have that curtailed, all the while you're facing competition from drone makers who can deliver ordnance at 1% of your manned aircraft cost and 0% risk of pilot losses.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:38 am to Spaceman Spiff
May I suggest the return of:
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:38 am to Spaceman Spiff
quote:
not replace the service’s beloved A-10 Warthog
This statement should be common knowledge with anyone discussing new attack aircraft.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:44 am to CunningLinguist
quote:
Yep. F-35 is DOA if that happens
If so, it's dumb.
The chances of the total program cost of a replacement coming in lower than the remaining unit cost of the F35 is basically nil.
ETA: You can scrap the F35, but you can't replace what it does for any cheaper.
This post was edited on 1/20/17 at 7:50 am
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:53 am to Spaceman Spiff
Why wont Lockheed do the same thing with the F-16 that Boeing did with the F-18? You have a completly viable platform thats proven itself in combat. So use that as your base and expand the platform.
The E/F Hornets share a ton of parts commonality with the C/D Hornets (On of the big selling points of the F-35) and the program. Lockheed exports some pretty advanced versions of the F-16. It wouldn't take much to make that work
As far as replacing the capabilities, it was a folly from the start. You can't have your frontline hardware be "Jack of all, Master of none" and be successful. Isn't the -A version of the F-35 doing okay? Arent most of the issues and development costs associated with the B V/STOL version? Put your money into the A and C, scrap the B, lick your wounds and move on.
The E/F Hornets share a ton of parts commonality with the C/D Hornets (On of the big selling points of the F-35) and the program. Lockheed exports some pretty advanced versions of the F-16. It wouldn't take much to make that work
As far as replacing the capabilities, it was a folly from the start. You can't have your frontline hardware be "Jack of all, Master of none" and be successful. Isn't the -A version of the F-35 doing okay? Arent most of the issues and development costs associated with the B V/STOL version? Put your money into the A and C, scrap the B, lick your wounds and move on.
This post was edited on 1/20/17 at 7:57 am
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:54 am to slackster
couldn't we just buy more drones?
What are we talking about here? A plane that can strafe the goat frickers or an aircraft with extended/cheap time on target before firing a hellfire?
What are we talking about here? A plane that can strafe the goat frickers or an aircraft with extended/cheap time on target before firing a hellfire?
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:55 am to Strannix
quote:
Just need an updated F-16 like platform
Block 60/70 F-16 export platforms are the most capable Vipers ever produced, but weren't sexy enough for the USAF. Put all of their eggs in the F-35 basket and the cost over runs bit them in the arse.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 7:59 am to Port Royal
quote:
Just need an updated F-16 like platform
I'm still not quite sure what on the F-16 would be required to be updated... The 16 performed admirably in OIF and Desert Storm.
I don't understand why we need a new platform when the perfect aircraft are already in our inventory or standing by in the Arizona desert
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:15 am to Spaceman Spiff
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:19 am to slackster
quote:
you can't replace what it does for any cheaper.
What it does? It sits on a damn tarmac with white painted fuel trucks so it's fuel doesn't get too hot and make the engine upset.
That plane is a joke.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:21 am to GeauxxxTigers23
This!
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:22 am to GeauxxxTigers23
The only thing is, the USAF won't go for prop jobs
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:23 am to brass2mouth
They need to focus on drones and stop pretending this is 1988.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:25 am to CunningLinguist
A-4 sky hawk
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:27 am to choupiquesushi
The Scooter was a good bird!
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