Article

2004-05-25 Britain

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Posted by Howard UK 2004-05-25 5:15:19 AM|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Iran should buy some to park at its new aiport.

Posted by Mike Sylwester 2004-05-25 6:38:37 AM|| 2004-05-25 6:38:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Alongside their F14 paperweights.

Won't the new British large deck carriers have catapults? Without them, aircraft won't be able to take off with a decent payload, let alone fly the E2C. With catapults, aircraft weight is a moot point.

Posted by ed 2004-05-25 7:53:09 AM|| 2004-05-25 7:53:09 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 The JSF isn't going to be operational until 2010 or 2012 and it's possible to pare the weight down before then so it'll fly off the end of a boat.
The ski jump carriers are much cheaper to build than the flat ones, and since they already have a couple I doubt the Brits would be looking to scrap them. So they'll just have to skinny the JSF down.

Posted by JerseyMike 2004-05-25 8:17:01 AM|| 2004-05-25 8:17:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 I don't think a decision to build or not build catapults on the new carriers has been made. Worse case is that it is left off but allowance is made for future installation.

Posted by Shipman 2004-05-25 8:36:40 AM|| 2004-05-25 8:36:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 I thought the JSF was to have a VTOL version.

Posted by TomAnon 2004-05-25 8:59:45 AM|| 2004-05-25 8:59:45 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Considered unlikely now TomA weight and cost problems.

Posted by Shipman 2004-05-25 9:29:14 AM|| 2004-05-25 9:29:14 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Four years doesn't sound massively behind schedule to me. Yeah its embarrassing and unfortunate but not massively behind schedule compared to other military hardware that's slipped the schedule.

Posted by ruprecht 2004-05-25 9:55:58 AM|| [politicaljunky.blogspot.com] 2004-05-25 9:55:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 The real indicator of program difficulty is not how far behind schedule it is, but how many times its budget has been rebaselined. It's usually three strikes and you're out.

Posted by RWV 2004-05-25 11:29:55 AM|| 2004-05-25 11:29:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#9
a joint project involving the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy,

Wasn't there an old saying about, "Too many cooks spoil the broth"

OR

"But it was so good in the virtual reality test."

Try flying it upside down. Might Work.

Posted by BigEd 2004-05-25 11:30:55 AM|| 2004-05-25 11:30:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 Mike S: Maybe France should consider buying some too to park at the de Gaulle aeroport! Considering how it's falling down around them! Man, what a time to live in America! When even the Frenchies can't keep their airport open (as if any true Americans wanted to visit France now). Guess the next plane to fly into the Eiffel Tower will have to come from Germany!

Posted by BA 2004-05-25 1:38:56 PM|| 2004-05-25 1:38:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 1)The Eurofighter is not just 4 years behind schedule-it was originally called Eurofighter 90,because it was supposed to be flying in the early 19990's.

2)The JSF or F-35 is a total disaster.Here's why(long rant follows-if too long understand deletion).The USAF wanted a replacement for f-117 Steath a/c,but couldn't justify cost for such a limited run.So USAF announced F-35 was F-16 replacement.Didn't matter F-16 has better dogfighting ability,longer range,and more payload capacity,the F-35 is STEALTHY!The Navy needed an all-weather strike a/c to replace A-6,and wanted to get a stealth a/c also.The Marines want a replacement for Harriers which are getting close to 20 years old.The F-35(JSF) was the proposed to replace all of the above.A VTOL version for USMC,carrier version for USN and land version for USAF.Britain signed on for VTOL version for RN,w/more for RAF.Now look at differ types of a/c F-35 is to replace:F-16,A-6,Harrier,F-117-they have virtually nothing in common except being combat a/c.It is same as buying a 4door sedan and expecting it to replace a mini-van,a pick-up truck,an Indy racecar and a jeep.

Then the USAF(in charge of project)announced that the price was going to be fixed-in other words if you wanted to add something to a/c you had to lose something else.The first thing lost was VTOL capability.USAF studies "proved" the USMC didn't use VTOL that much,so STOL(short takeoff & landing vs.vertical)was good enough.The Marines didn't fight too much cause they needed USAF support over other flop,the OSPREY(V-22).(Didn't work,the USAF has said it won't commit to buying any OSPREY's.)Meanwhile the STOL version keeps needing longer and longer distances to take off.

The USAF discovered it intended to sell the F-35 to other countries and it now needs new software that can't be copied.Since this was such a suprise to USAF(heavy sarcasm!),the USAF announced that fixed price was not feasible and that the unit price is going to rise-in other words all the goodies everybody wanted could now be added,cost be damned,which also means weight goes up and performance declines even more.So a new stealthy strike a/c that would cost a little more than fully loaded new F-16 is now costing at least 50% more for a less capable a/c.It is no longer VTOl capable,and USAF even had b**** to ask USMC if they really needed STOL version,cause Marine a/c usually operate from carriers or concrete airbases.That request died when British stated w/out STOL they had no reason to buy F-35.

The F-35 will cost more,dogfight worse than F-16's,is incapable of VTOL like Harrier,and is far superior to F-117.Is that a reason to buy this turkey,especially when F-22 can fairly stealthily carry a couple of pgms?

Posted by Stephen 2004-05-25 5:06:33 PM|| 2004-05-25 5:06:33 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 JSF = TFX, and is about as likely to succeed.

Posted by 11A5S 2004-05-25 7:38:02 PM|| 2004-05-25 7:38:02 PM|| Front Page Top

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