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2009-02-12 Science & Technology

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Posted by tu3031 2009-02-12 11:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 Let's see if I understand: the F35 is both more expensive and less capable than the F35 and it is getting into production? Anyone sees the rationality? (That is assumming it is not built in Murtha's constituency).

Yes I know about the air to ground role) but, except for the VTOL frames wouldn't it be more rational to develop an air to ground version of th e F22 a la Strike Eagle and shutdown the F35? (Screw the Euros) At least while less capable the F16 was cheaper than the F15.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2009-02-12 12:24|| 2009-02-12 12:24|| Front Page Top

#2 They are going with the F-22 and F-35 for the same reason they did a F-15 and F-16 mix. High/low cover. The F-22/F-15 are designed to take on aircraft and provide air cover for the other planes. They can provide air-to-ground cover if needed. The F-16/F-35 is the multi-role part of the mix. They get in low, bomb and provide the air-to-mud mix, but they can perform as good air-to-air fighters if needed.

The reason the air force likes the smaller and cheaper aircraft for the low mix is they will have a much higher attrition rate than the high mix aircraft. Bullets flying at you from all directions will do that. Therefore it makes logical sense that the cheaper aircraft are designed for the low mix. The F-35 was supposed to follow the same principle, but with all multi-committee designed projects the costs have spiraled.

Personally, I think it would make more sense to make more F-22s, provide them with ARMM capabilities and then let the F-16s go in and tear up shit. Later we can design, on our own (US) a stealthy replacement to the F-16. The F-35 will be a good aircraft, but now is becoming so damn expensive that most countries will not be able to buy it.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-02-12 12:56|| 2009-02-12 12:56|| Front Page Top

#3 If we need to spend billions of dollars to stimulate the economy why not buy more F-22s and F-35s more quickly?

Posted by Donald McConnell">Donald McConnell 2009-02-12 14:35|| http://trinitariandon.blogspot.com]">[http://trinitariandon.blogspot.com] 2009-02-12 14:35|| Front Page Top

#4 To add to this, the F-35 comes in both Air Force and Navy/Marine versions. It's also our export fighter of the future, and the Brits, several Euro nations and the Aussies have put serious coin into its development. That was done in part to drive down the unit cost by ensuring sufficient sales. The F-22 was supposed to be USAF only with no export, but the Japanese in particular would love to have some.

Posted by Steve White 2009-02-12 14:47|| 2009-02-12 14:47|| Front Page Top

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