Posted on 04/17/2012 8:20:04 AM PDT by Josh Painter
Speaking of F/A-XX, the Navy’s planned 6th generation fighter that will replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, below you’ll find the Navy’s brand new Request for Information on the aircraft. By Brand new, I mean it just dropped on Friday.
Whatever jet is selected will hopefully replace the Super Hornets around 2030, said Rear Adm. Donald Gaddis this afternoon at the Navy League’s annual Sea, Air, Space conference in National Harbor, Md. Before the Navy can settle on the final capabilities such a plane will have, it needs to know what types of technology the defense industry can bring to the table for a brand new fighter that will be fielded in less than two decades, said Gaddis. The new jet must be able to survive in anti-access environment, have next-gen sensors and maybe even the ability to ‘buddy’ refuel other fighters and perform airborne early warning (AEW) duties, according to Gaddis.
Here’s what the actual RfI says the service wants in the new jet:
The intent of this research is to solicit Industry inputs on candidate solutions for CVN based aircraft to provide multi-role capability in an A2AD operational environment. Primary missions include, but are not limited to, air warfare (AW), strike warfare (STW), surface warfare (SUW), and close air support (CAS). Also consider the ability of your concept to provide other capabilities currently provided by strike fighter aircraft, such as organic air-to-air refueling (AAR), Tactical Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA), and airborne electronic attack (AEA)...
(Excerpt) Read more at defensetech.org ...
You mean it is not the F-35? I thought that was the answer to all the future needs... sarcasm off.
OH BOY Let’s just SEE what the RETARDS in MODERN Naval TacAir will come up with NEXT! STUPID BASTARDS!
I know drones have demonstrated the ability to aerial refuel — I wonder if they’ve made landings on carriers yet?
Total airborne cost under $75, i.e. if I can afford it the US Navy probably can...
Gee I got an IDEA, how about the the E-2F, F-14D, The A-6F AND the KS-3 TANKER! DUMP THE BUG!
Reading and comprehending before posting is so passe.
If you Google F35 Navy version you come up with lots of hits.
If this new fighter which is supposed to be the acme of all current research—but hasn’t hit the production line for the fleet yet—is already contracted for, why is the Navy pushing for a new fighter?
Look at the normal lifespan of our current air superiority fighters (and their is no enemy fighter that can compete with them now) and you begin to wonder if anyone told the Navy chiefs that our country is going to sink under a mountain of debt.
It would be a great F-14 replacement, F/A-18 replacement and give the Navy an equal to the F-22 or better.
Once upon a time, the YF-17 lost to the YF-16, but was too good to waste.
It was 'navalized' for carrier use and turned into the F/A-18.
The YF-23 lost to the YF-22 and is waiting for the same transformation.
We’ll be lucky if we HAVE a Navy in 2030, and even luckier if we are deploying any CVNs.
Ridiculous.
When Obama is re-elected we will be buying our Jets from China..
Wonder if Zero has given the new Aegis upgrades to them YET?...
I’ve seen 1970s, maybe early 1980s footage of a drone on a carrier. They put up a net across the deck to snag it, rather than a touch down.
Since the delivery date of 2030 is about the same for both airplanes isn’t the generation about the same?
The ST-21 and AST-21 should have replaced the F-14D and A-6F by now. KA-6Fs can tank.
I hope Northrup/Gruman/McDonnel Douglas reintroduce it. That was, IMHO, one fine aircraft and still would be.
The F-22 and F-35 are both considered fifth generation fighters. The new Sukhoi PAK FA T-50 is also considered 5th gen...but I do not know if the Russians/Indians can afford to build them.
So, a 2030 aircraft is apt to be rightfully named a 6th gemn aircraft. I believe if they bring the YF-23 Black Widow II out, dust it off, and do a major upgrade to the latest and greatest sensors, electronics, stealth, weapons, etc. that they could meet the specs.
I was personally rooting for her against the F-22 back during the competition.
We'll see. Boy but she is pretty.
Yeah, me too.
Right now, the F-35 farce is starting to look more and more like Robert McNamara's TFX/F-111 debacle, so much so that our allies are getting nervous about delivery and starting to bail.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.