PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
FYI the overpriced hammer was because some idiot wanted a hammer with replaceable parts so instead of going to Lowes and buying the best Hammer they sell a custom modular hammer that had replaceable parts was made.
The Air Force Next Generation Air Dominance Vehicle
- Thread starter Clem72
- Start date
There are a lot of reasons, but most of it comes to economy of scale and then all the overhead the prime can add to the bill.
There is a lot of work that COULD be done organically, but PM doesn't want to accept any risk.
They are will to take expensive, less capable solutions, but put all the risk on the prime (who won't actually be held accountable because they are too big to fail).
Clem72
Well-Known Member
I thought the F-35 bubbas said stealth doesn't matter if you can target the enemy down-range?
the F-35 was designed with stealth in mind. Both it and the F-22. They just don't look like the first generation stealth aircraft, the F-117
Yooper
Up. Identified. Lase. Fire. On the way.
Absolutely spot-on. No Legions of Merit if we keep production lines open and improve capabilities via Block upgrades, right? If the current mode of thinking took place back in the 1960s the B-52s would have been in the graveyard before the draft was over. Look at what the USAF keeps trying to do to the A-10; trying to retire it without any reasonable replacement (for the record, I LOVE the A-10; see "ground-pounder," below).
As I understand it the F-35 was expected to be both the inter-service workhorse and the "F-16" to the F-22 (the "new" F-15).
But as each of the three user services took a look they realized that one size doesn't fit all. So we now have a hugely expensive aircraft that eventually be great but is now only good. And I don't think it did a good job as a "fill in the gap 5th gen fighter." Maybe 4.5, but 5th gen, not buying it. Being a ground-pounder, though, I am more than willing to admit I'm absolutely incorrect here.
Appreciate your posts on this. Very interesting.
--- End of line (MCP)
I think the Air Farce has removed the A-10 from active duty squadrons, the close air support mission has been moved to the Guard and Reserves.
Simply because it's not the mission they want to fly (and it shifts the cost out of their budget so they can pursue the F-15X, the B-20 and a new 6th Generation fighter.
The Air Farce is rumored to be the toughest player in the battle of the budget.
I don't know where the Navy stands on it's commitment to the F-35, but they are pouring a lot of money into the F-18
For some reason the AF didn't put up a big stink for the F-22. They accepted the rather limited number of aircraft and shut the line down.
