Trade Ya My JSFs for 100 LRStrike: RUMOR

As pressure rises for the US to abandon overseas bases crucial to the U.S. ability to reach deep into China, Russia and other strategic locations, the service is growing increasingly hungry to buy a basket of long range strike capabilities.

Air Force officials say it would probably be a mix of platforms — manned and unmanned — and some of them will almost certainly be stealthy and they will boast a range of at least 1,800 miles. And they will be expensive. Why do the Air Force and so many estimable defense analysts believe the U.S must build a replacement for the B-52s and B-2 bombers?

“Considering the time that is required to develop and field new weapon systems, if the next defense budget continues to defer needed long-range strike investments, a gap is likely to emerge in which the nation could lose its conventional long-range strike advantage for a decade or more,” Mark Gunzinger wrote last month in a major report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment.

I'd like to think that's true. But something tells me if we had something like that, we would have seen it, at least over Iraq in 2003. I have no doubt we have some gee-whiz planes, but if we have more than 2 each, I'd be very surprised. Next gen planes belong to the drone, they can be produced far quicker, cheaper, and more capable than an F-22 or F-35. Something tells me they are not ready for prime time. The fighter jocks that run the Air Force have not panicked yet and that shows me, they still have their "manned" air seat at the table.
Right now the Air Force is moving in a direction that reminds me of 1994 when the last draw down happened. I foresee the Air Force taking a brutal hit in numbers in the next 3-5 years. They love their toys more than people, planes without butts in the seat do not get the attention of the brass. They want the F-35 and they are prepared to lose 10,000 heads to keep them I suspect. Repeal of Don't ask don't tell and greatly increased Physical fitness standards that hard hard to meet if your not in your early 20's will cull the numbers without them having to look like the bureaucratic mathmaticians they really are. Back to the subject at hand, look up the B-1R on wikipedia for an interesting concept missile carrier. Lastly, please no one do not suggest the US break the Geneva conventions by disguising military weapons as civilian transport. That's what the other side does, not us. ;-)

I never suggested the US break the Geneva conventions by disguising military weapons as civilian transport.

IMO we did not need to expose any advanced hardware over Iraq in 2003.

Repeal of Don't ask don't tell and greatly increased Physical fitness standards that hard hard to meet if your not in your early 20’s will cull the numbers without them having to look like the bureaucratic mathematicians they really are.

Totally agree, also that would take women back out of the cockpit. They never should have 'gender normed' the requirements anyway.

Yes the B1-R is an interesting concept. My imaginations is more active than that I guess.

I forsee that we may already have hypersonic aircraft which may be a drone or be manned as their choice, they could probably adapt the airframe either way. I have no idea how many there might be in existence.

All the leading edge surfaces would probably be ceramic as would large parts of the engine/s with something like inconel-718 holding the engines together, maybe inconel-718 for the airframe also. The plasma generated by the heat should give it natural stealth while in hypersonic flight. But its been awhile since I am up to date on all the factors so I could be wrong on some of the conceptual details.

It would probably use rocket boosters from a land based launch to get up to altitude and speed for the scramjets to operate as it would be to much for a B-52 etc to carry. The aircraft would use small ram air turbines to to power all the electronics fuel etc. For some of those missions you would definitely need a man in the cockpit.

I agree the drone has the advantages you mentioned it also has its limitations like you said. It can be a force multiplier but its definitely not ready for prime time IMO

I am pretty sure combat air controllers are not deciding how many of what kind of jets we are buying, what manpower we’ll have and in what direction we’re going to be working towards. I’ll put my almost 15 years as a 3E0 up against those glass office building generals who say this almost 40 year old has to run almost as fast as a 20 year old.
Frankly, I could almost take umbrage that you would imply I would say so but, I don’t. CAC is one of the few AFSC’s harder than mine, and my hat is off to them.

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