Posted on 12/22/2010 10:13:40 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
So far, the F-22 and F-35 have been developed along parallel paths. Except for one of the F-35's engines, the direct links between Lockheed's two "fifth-generation fighters" are surprisingly thin. It seems both Lockheed Martin and the US Air Force like it that way. If an official -- or even unofficial -- photo exists showing both aircraft together in flight, I've never seen it.
The disconnect extends deep beneath the titanium and steel skin. Major subsystems for both aircraft are based on different computing architectures. So improving hardware or software on the F-35 yields no benefit for the F-22, and vice versa.
No decisions have been made, but Lockheed officials at the F-22 factory are asking if that should change, only 16 months before the production line is shut.
The concept involves installing the F-35 computing architecture and certain hardware in the F-22. Even Lockheed acknowledges the idea would require "significant initial investment", but could yield "some cost savings" in the long-term. Discussions with the US Air Force are underway.
"Say, if we want to add something to [the F-22] CNI suite, F-35 could take that wholesale with minimal modifications," says Jeff Babione, vice-president and deputy general manager of the F-22 programme. "So you'll see this bouncing back and forth where F-22 develops something for F-35, and F-35 develops something for F-22."
Although less powerful and slower than the F-22, the F-35 has more sensors. Installing the electro-optical targeting system, infrared search and track and distributed aperture system "as is" on the F-22 is impossible, the company says, but the proposed "common architecture and common modules provides the opportunity for synergy ... at a potentially lower cost across both platforms".
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
Ping.
Put a Marine Corps General in charge of USAF procurement.
Stop the bloat. Engage brain before writing checks.
/johnny
a better idea would be to give the
Air Force back to the Army
Give some of it to the Navy.
There is a place for air refueling, air superiority, invasion intercept and a few other things for a dedicated AF.
Space? Nope. That needs to be a separate command or Navy.
Close air support? Nope, that goes to Marines or Army.
I'm big for downsizing the USAF. There is NO reason for them to have CE or food services when the Army or Navy could do the job.
And I'm a former zoomie.
Prune, don't kill. But prune HARD.
/johnny
Politics have taken over the reigns of the Pentagon’s procruement of weapon systems. These fights go every day in HASC and out in the halls of Congress. Procurement and the development of weapon systems should be left to the Pentagon not politicians.
Yup. Great forward thinkers like Heinlein and Roddenberry are with you there. As well as hundreds of amatuers.
United States Space Corps, United States Starfleet or United States Navy (Space.) it needn't matter the name.
It is completely irrelevant what they do.
All programs are dependent on large sales and being well placed in the global marketplace. With Obama and the US drooling all over every muslim terrorist and communist dictator, that is not happening - no one sane is going to buy anything from the US.
The US tech/defense industry is dead. It just hasn’t fallen over yet.
How about give the Air Force the FAA?
Hmm. The Marine Corps oversaw the development of the V-22. How long did that take? The Marine Corps are overseeing the development of the EFV. How long has that taken, and it still isn't finished.
Don't blame the military for an industry's failure to innovate on a set timetable and at a fixed price.
I do not think its dead. The military have their “black project” operations and DARPA which is why we are so far ahead Russia and China.You have Plant 42 which is located on top of Edwards AFB.
Oh, there’s still things going on. But it will, downstream, all depend on the US reputation, and that reputation is in the process of being lost. If that is irrevocable remains to be seen.
As an example of how the loss of trust is marching on, today I saw an NY Times notice about a “little-known government office” approving business with countries on the terrorism list - like Iran.
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