Posted on 01/30/2006 10:34:57 AM PST by Blogger
Euro weenies need no aid.
The JSF will have 3 variants, including a STOVL form. It's a great fighter.
My bet is you are going to see a huge production jump in UAV's . When you can train crews cheaper and one pilot can control several UAV's and you can product 15 to 20 UAV's for one jet with a pilot and support crew.... You get far more protection for your dollar. Same thing was said after WWI when the people that produced horses for the calvary found that the Govt wasn't going to buy anymore.
So they say (about the 3 variants) - The USMC is a long way off from replacing its 18's (last I heard). Which means the STOVL version is a ways off (or is the U.K. going with that version as well?).
As for being a great fighter? There is debate on that - But even more important is... that is NOT the JSF primary role. That role belongs to the F-22 (much like today it is the F-15's....not 16's that assume that role within our USAF).
Additionally the JSF is no replacement for the A-10 (not even in close in terms of the type of CAS missions the A-10's are tasked with)....and in many aspects I don't see the JSF being any better then our 16's and 18F's in the role of CAS either.
The F-22 is replacing our 15's (F-15s)....the JSF is being tasked with replacing 10's, 16's, 18's, and the USMC Harriers.
Though, smartly the notion of shelving the A-10's was axed and they will be flying into the foreseeable future.
I see a need and a role for the JSF - However I think it is being tremendously over tasked.
Rolls Royce is a full partner with General Electric. The UK is very much involved in all variants.
This is a big mistake.
I'm used to denouncing the Clinton cuts, where we cut the size of the military in half. Bush is saying, in effect, that the Clinton-sized military is just a little bit too big.
I don't agree. If we're having trouble filling the slots, increase pay and benefits. Spend more money, not less.
Under the constitution there are expenses that properly belong to the federal government, and others that don't. The military is a proper federal expense. Cut something that isn't. Furthermore, while most of us favor a balanced budget, its wartime. A balanced budget should be non-negotiable during peacetime, but we shouldn't make a fetish of it during a national emergency.
If a war isn't a national emergency, our priorities are wrong.
I am aware of that - My point was had the U.K. decided to purchase the STOVL variant?
The only difference between the E and F is two cockpits in the F. That allows lower task loading for LGB deliveries and airborne FAC, but that is it.
As far as the JSF goes you have to look at what it is designed for. It is meant to be a first night JDAM dropper. Will it be as good at CAS as an A-10? No, but if you sent an A-10 downtown on the first night it wouldn't come back. The JSF does have options for hanging more ordnance on the wings after air superiority has been achieved. Personally, I don't ever expect to see a slick wing on a Navy JSF. The Navy loves taking a slick airplane and immediately slapping pylons all over it.
I'm used to denouncing the Clinton cuts, where we cut the size of the military in half. Bush is saying, in effect, that the Clinton-sized military is just a little bit too big.
That isn't what is happening at all. What is happening is we are taking "Reserve Units" and making more "Active Units"....this is a very good thing.
Clinton took many of our logistics (and some SOF units) and cut them out of the active military....come cut out completely and others moved to the Reserves. That was foolishness.
That is being corrected now.
As far as the JSF goes you have to look at what it is designed for. It is meant to be a first night JDAM dropper. Will it be as good at CAS as an A-10? No, but if you sent an A-10 downtown on the first night it wouldn't come back. The JSF does have options for hanging more ordnance on the wings after air superiority has been achieved. Personally, I don't ever expect to see a slick wing on a Navy JSF. The Navy loves taking a slick airplane and immediately slapping pylons all over it.
I am aware of the RIO addition in the F version over the E (which I think makes a ton of sense)....but I also thought there was engine improvements and or the F version was going to have more legs then the E?? (Possibly I was thinking of the E over the C/D models).
As for the JSF being a JDAM dropper...that is exactly right. But the problem is the have the JSF tasked for all other sorts of roles.
Maybe, maybe not. If we're aidin' the Poles, I'm all for it. If were aidin' the "Kosovars" and Bosnian Muslim, I'm against it.
Personally, I'd take the 4 billion out of Katrina Aid.
From their website:
The JSF will fulfill stated Service needs as follows:
U. S. Navy First day of war, survivable strike fighter aircraft to complement F/A-18E/F
U.S. Air Force Multirole aircraft (primary-air-to-ground) to replace the F-16 and A-10 and complement the F/A-22
U.S. Marine Corps STOVL aircraft to replace the AV-8B and F/A-18 as their only strike fighter
United Kingdom Royal Navy & Royal Air Force STOVL aircraft to replace Sea Harriers & GR.7s as a supersonic strike fighter
Other Countries Potential JSF customers include current operators of F-16, F/A-18, and AV-8B
And there in is the problem. It cannot fill in for any of those tasked responsibilities well enough.
It is simply a foolish plane (stealth) to try and provide CAS support! CAS support you are low and fast (and sometimes even low and slow) and you need to be able to have legs (to stay in the fight for the guys on the ground) along with the capabilities of having the needed ordinance to keep putting down on the bad guys.
We will have to disagree on that one.
Payback to GE for Book of Daniel. Too bad that RollsRoyce got caught in the crossfire. Perhaps now GE will exercise more control over their subs.
What program is that? They are adding, not subtracting planes. They aren't cutting any soldiers - just making the budget match the actual numbers.
The same program GE Cancelled?
It already has one engine that works. Why spend the money to re-invent the wheel (other than corporate welfare)?
2. The US is tripping over itself in its move from manned to unmanned aircraft. The F-22 has nothing to fight and the F-35 can, within five years, be replaced by a UCAV.
Yes, you are. The E/F has really wimpy engines, a fat wing, and is slow.
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