The F-111F with precision weapon capability was an awesome air to ground asset. It scared the crap out of the Russians. The rest of the fleet was never upgraded to that kind of level. Partly because the F-15E was on the drawing board. We actually should buy a couple more wings of F-15Es with the latest upgrades. There is no current non-bomber match for range and payload. Plus it can protect itself. A good stealth aircraft will have a significant advantage air-to-air, so both are required. And when stealth is not required (often in the Middle East); there is no reason to risk the technology transfer of a plane going down for any reason. Am I a big fan of the F-35? No. Am I a little fan of the F-35? Yes. However, the Air Force should by a mixed bag of A,B and C models for different applications. Once they sort out the proper flight control solution, the A model will be competent in air to air and the B model will be better that any of the previous generation of fighters. The A model’s wing is a bit small, but it should give a better ride in the low altitude high speed environment. Yes we should have bought more F-22s. To fix a current worry; the F-22 should make the combat trade of several more missiles externally mounted for the stealth that you give up. If you are facing numbers, it is a very good trade off.
Because we can’t wait for 20 year acquisition cycle to get something other than the F-35, we have to make do and try to make smart choices on its internal and external configurations.
“Because we can’t wait for 20 year acquisition cycle to get something other than the F-35, we have to make do and try to make smart choices on its internal and external configurations.”
A new and better air superiority fighter can be designed, manufactured, and deployed into combat duties within 18 to 36 months if it was made an emergency top priority order with sufficient funding, and the task can be done within 5 years given the correct funding and specialization for its mission. It is only a matter of will and financing.
I agree, the F-111 ended up being the best strike-interdiction aircraft on the planet. And while more expensive was better than it’s F-15E replacement.
The Aussies kept their F-111Cs flying long after we retired ours. Supplemented by transferred FB-111s (which had the longer wing in common with the Aussie models) they were still known to give fits to “enemy forces” at Red Flag because on the deck and at speed nothing could keep up with them.
Very astute observations. It would not surprise me to learn that while we have been pursuing the F-35 project, that there has been parallel development going on over at the Skunk works on aircraft that would put the F-35 to shame.
Wishful thinking perhaps, but I still have great faith in our engineering creativity when it comes to advanced combat aircraft.