F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread

TerraN_EmpirE

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
cyan1320 said:
Not sure what this will mean
or more misinformation....
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Pentagon Reconsidering Total F-35 Buy, Dunford Says
Click to expand...

Blackstone said:
It makes sense to regularly review defense procurements to suit national defense, but it's not enough for the Pentagon to do it, there must be reforms in the weakest leg of defense spending: the US Congress.

Currently, Congressional spending is based less on coherent defense strategy and more on how many Congressional Districts weapon systems are manufactured or based. That has produced mismatches between what the Pentagon says it needs to carry out missions and what Congress mandates on budgets. There are cases where the Pentagon said it doesn't need specific weapon systems and could save cost by cutting them, but Congress mandates them back into defense budgets anyway, not because the weapons are needed, but because they were manufactured in many States and Congressional Districts.

The mismatch was manageable when US was sole Hyperpower, with only 3rd World opponents to police, but that is no longer the case. Today, relations with China is increasingly adversarial and, Russia is actively invading another sovereign state. Conflicts are increasing in all the hot spots of the world, and militant Islam is attempting to turn the world clock back 1400 years. The planet is what General Dempsey called "perpetual war," and US doesn't have a global strategy to deal with it.

Pentagon reconsidering F-35 buys is a step in the right direction, but it isn't enough by itself. President Obama must show some leadership and drive Congress to review its own defense procurement and oversight process, because what we got today might not meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Click to expand...

TerraN_EmpirE said:
I doubt you will see much of a change here.. Each of the three Us Services will internally look it over, The Marines will finish First and come back to F35B, Compared to there Legacy harrier and Hornets it's a step up.
The Air force may make a few changes but unless we see a major push to reopen the Raptor line. I don't see a Change. F16 is a fine system and no doubt will remain in service for some time but the Air Force has to move on and as there are there are few on the Alternatives list that would do better. it might push for sixth Gen a little earlier though.
The Navy is the wild card. They have a Option for F/A18E/F advance but Really they have invested so much it unlikely to change.
Also for long term, Lets be honest the key problem will change for each version.
A was tested against F16.
B has the Lift fan and thrust vectoring systems changing it's weight but also potentially changing it's maneuvering.
C has larger wings changing it's performance.

and if the DOD opens a engine replacement program or decides in the 2020's to creat a F35D, F35E, and F35F it's going to farther change. If they can cook up a Advent Engine with better thrust F35A could start turning like a F16 add in thrust vectoring and who knows.
Click to expand...
Addendum
As to Foreign buyers, Again it will break down based on there own determination but there is a critical factor here the Italian, Spanish and British Navies any any other state looking to operate S/VTOL carriers with Jump jet fighters have no other option then F35B. Harrier Air frames are aging faster then you think and there numbers are shrinking.
Some may buy in supplemental platforms like Super Hornet, Grippens or Rafael or even Typhoon but Overall Don't expect a mass Abandonment the investment and assets offered by F35 are huge.
 
FORBIN

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
A question in air combat F-35B with her S/VTOL could be overtaken by an opponent ?

I am no sure but maybe UK Sea Harrier have do it during Falkland War.
 
Equation

Equation

Lieutenant General
TerraN_EmpirE said:
in the Falklands Harriers faced off against the the Pride of the Argentine Air Force the Mirage series fighters. They held there own.
Click to expand...

True, only after the Argentine Air Force Mirage fighters had to burn so much fuel while carrying their Exocet ASM because they don't have a run way near the area of conflict to keep away from the British CAP to dog fight with the Harriers (or so I believe).
 
TerraN_EmpirE

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
True but that just proves part of the problem with relying on one issue to damn a whole program. A good pilot will find his advantages and use them. There are no Equal fighters each machine performs better in different places optimized for different fights.
 
Brumby

Brumby

Major
Zarkon said:
Australia cancels potential F-35B purchase. Pretty significant since they are a major ally.

Source below:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Click to expand...

Technically you can't cancel a potential buy. The F-35B was not on the radar screen of the military establishment until the newly elected PM raised it as an issue. Looks like they have looked at it and made its conclusion. Have to wait for the White paper to establish whether it is due to cost or strategic posture.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Zarkon said:
Australia cancels potential F-35B purchase. Pretty significant since they are a major ally.

Source below:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Click to expand...
How can you cancel a purchase that was never made or announced? Hmmm?

Apparently the consideration they were thinking of may have been put on ice...but let's be clear, they did not cancel any order.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top