F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

[Loachman]

The advantage to them is to improve or upgrade the defensive capabilities of North America which is the actual goal. Even if they bring in F-35's and conduct exercises with whatever aircraft we purchase, then they could have a contingency plan to move them in should there be a real threat, as even a limited number would improve our capabilities. These types of contingencies have everything to do with reality.

I respect the enthusiasm and tenacity of your Điện Biên Phủ-like defence.

It is a pity, however, that you are wasting it on a completely undefendable position.

This is not an "upgrade" to anything. There is no "advantage" to it. People who actually know what they are doing would have proposed this years ago if there was.

Any "contingency plan" requires facilities into which to move - ramp space, hangars, quarters, headquarters and administrative buildings, extra fuel tanks, vehicles. Who, in their right mind, would consider burning money for facilities that duplicate what they already have in their own country and that would sit idle and empty for the bulk of any given year if only built for "contingency"?

Your concept of reality does not coincide with mine.

Or anybody else's.

 

[PuckChaser]

I'll be shocked if we get anything more then some Advanced Super Hornets and who knows how many. And just for the record, I didn't vote for JT, just for this reason.

Which could end up costing more than the F-35.

 

[Loachman]

"Could"?

WILL, over the lifetime of the F35.

 

[Bearpaw]

More on F-35 woes:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/01/f35-stealth-fighter-software-is-still.html

Bearpaw

 

[WingsofFury]

I'll be shocked if we get anything more then some Advanced Super Hornets and who knows how many. And just for the record, I didn't vote for JT, just for this reason.

Advanced Super Hornets? pshaw....we'll be flying the MK III Super Arrow!!

Brevity folks...this thread is getting too serious....

 

[Loachman]

More on F-35 woes:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/01/f35-stealth-fighter-software-is-still.html

Bearpaw

Virtually identical reporting has occurred during all military aircraft design and test programmes in the last several decades. This is not new.

 

[jmt18325]

Not sure if you've seen a map lately, but transit time for a F-22 from Elmendorf to Arctic defense and from Cold Lake to Arctic are drastically different.

That would really depend where you're going.

 

[PuckChaser]

That would really depend where you're going.

Russia running Bears over the pole. Cold Lake isn't getting there in time. Elmendorf is, thats why the US put it there.

 

[Ostrozac]

Russia running Bears over the pole. Cold Lake isn't getting there in time. Elmendorf is, thats why the US put it there.

Well, yeah. Cold Lake, after all, is located in the southern half of Alberta. (Just barely, but it's still in the southern half). So you still have half a province to cross before you even start flying over NWT -- and it's still a long way to the Arctic Ocean. Elmendorf is north of 60, so they have a considerable head start to anywhere in the Arctic. Elmendorf is even closer than Cold Lake to CFS Alert.

 

[caocao]

What about the FOLs?  Would require some runway upgrades and i think that there was talks of a 60M project for Inuvik when i was working at 1 CAD a few years ago. 

 

[MarkOttawa]

JPO pushes back:

2015 DOT&E Report - Public Response Statement
Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, F-35 Program Executive Officer // January 29, 2016
...
Although the DOT&E report is factually accurate, it does not fully address program efforts to resolve known technical challenges and schedule risks.  It is the F-35 Joint Program Office’s responsibility to find developmental issues, resolve them and execute with the time and budget we have been given.  Our government and industry team has a proven track record of overcoming technical challenges discovered during developmental and operational testing and fleet operations, and delivering on program commitments.  A few recent examples of issues that are resolved include the F-35C tailhook, the F135 engine rub, and F-35B STOVL Auxiliary Air Inlet door. The F-35C has now “caught the wire” more than 200 times at sea, the engine rub fix is incorporated on the production line and delivered engines are being retrofitted, and the F‑35B has performed more than 1,000 vertical landings safely.

Currently, mission systems software and the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), are the program’s top technical risks.  Disciplined systems engineering processes addressing the complexity of writing, testing and integrating mission systems and ALIS software have improved the delivery of capability, although challenges remain.  There is more work to accomplish in both mission systems software and ALIS before the end of the development program.

Continuing on 2015’s results, Block 3i software was released for flight test in May 2015 to support the U.S. Air Force IOC declaration later in 2016. Coding for the final development software block (known as 3F) was completed in June 2015 and the software has been released for flight testing. Additional updates are planned throughout the year with 3F tracking for completion by the end of the System Development and Demonstration Program (SDD) in the fall of 2017 [emphasis added] in order to support U.S. Navy IOC in 2018 and the start of IOT&E. Throughout testing, interim software test builds are provided to both the developmental test and operational test teams allowing them to experience the software as early as possible to provide feedback to our teams.  As of Dec. 31, the program completed 80 percent of SDD test points and is on track for completion in the fourth quarter of 2017.

At the completion of the F-35 SDD program, the objective is to deliver full Block 3F capabilities (Mission Systems, Weapons & Flight Envelope) for the Services and International customers.  The F-35 program will continue to closely coordinate with the JSF Operational Test Team (JOTT) and DOT&E on key test planning and priorities to successfully meet key SDD program milestones and objectives...
https://www.f35.com/news/detail/2015-dote-report-public-response-statement

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Quirky]

Russia running Bears over the pole. Cold Lake isn't getting there in time. Elmendorf is, thats why the US put it there.

We have never missed an intercept over/ next to cnd airspace because of distance of cold lake, or comox in some cases, to the arctic. The last thing we need are arctic air force bases for our fighters. Cold lake is a fucking shit hole as it is, no need to go any further north for a permanent posting. Yellowknife doesn't count.

 

[PuckChaser]

Our postings aren't the issue. More why the US would stage NORAD intercept aircraft in Cold Lake when they already have some in Elmendorf.

 

[Ostrozac]

Cold lake is a ******* crap hole as it is, no need to go any further north for a permanent posting.

The US Air Force has two squadrons of F-22 and one squadron of F-16 permanently stationed north of 60. It seems to work for them.

To be fair, it's not just an Air Force thing, the US Army also posts infantry battalions to Alaska -- I don't think the Canadian Army has had a regular battalion north of 60 since 1RCR served in the Klondike.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

The US Air Force has two squadrons of F-22 and one squadron of F-16 permanently stationed north of 60. It seems to work for them.

To be fair, it's not just an Air Force thing, the US Army also posts infantry battalions to Alaska -- I don't think the Canadian Army has had a regular battalion north of 60 since 1RCR served in the Klondike.

A Brigade Combat Team is stationed in Alaska as well as an Airborne Battalion Group  :APC:

 

[Infanteer]

1/25 is the Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Alaska.  4/25 at JBER is actually an Airborne Infantry Brigade Combat Team, not merely a Battalion Group.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

1/25 is the Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Alaska.  4/25 at JBER is actually an Airborne Infantry Brigade Combat Team, not merely a Battalion Group.

Thanks for the clarification!  I wasn't certain if the Airborne force was at actual IBCT strength.  I was supposed to visit USARAK a few years ago but was stop dropped by a snowstorm  :crybaby:

So Div (-) in Alaska.  We've got Arctic Response Company Groups though!

 

[Good2Golf]

1/25 is the Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Alaska.  4/25 at JBER is actually an Airborne Infantry Brigade Combat Team, not merely a Battalion Group.

...and 1/52 Gen Sp Avn Bn from 16 Cbt Avn Bde in Ft. Wainright, AK.

 

[Kirkhill]

...and 1/52 Gen Sp Avn Bn from 16 Cbt Avn Bde in Ft. Wainright, AK.

With some interesting taskings

http://www.adn.com/article/20150326/army-helicopters-help-medevacs-rescues-interior-alaska

Army helicopters to help with medevacs, rescues in Interior Alaska
Dermot Cole
March 26, 2015
EmailPrintText Size-A+A

Bill Roth
FAIRBANKS -- A Black Hawk helicopter unit that returned from Afghanistan late last year is set to begin providing emergency search-and-rescue assistance in Interior Alaska next week.

Fort Wainwright crews from C Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment will assist with emergency medical evacuation and search-and-rescue missions under an agreement with the Rescue Coordination Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.

The program differs from the former Military Aid to Safety and Traffic , or MAST, operation that existed for decades in Interior Alaska before it was discontinued during the Iraq War. According to one estimate, MAST crews flew more than 1,000 missions over three decades in all kinds of bad weather.

An Army spokesman said that the new plan calls for the aviation regiment to provide assistance when possible, coordinated through the Anchorage center.

“We have a memorandum of agreement with the RCC that we will support when able to the best of our abilities,” said Army spokesman John Pennell.

“We keep a crew ready to go anytime we are conducting 'high risk' military training such as demolitions, live-fire exercises, etc. At the mission commander's discretion, we also keep a crew on standby at Ladd Field when there is no high-risk training happening,” he said.

If a request for help comes in, “we will respond if we have assets available.” A flight crew will not necessarily be on duty at all hours, however, so response times will vary.

“We don’t have Black Hawks that we can take out and land in remote areas,” an Alaska State Troopers spokesman said after a training exercise Wednesday.

The Army, the Troopers and other emergency personnel conducted the exercise north of Fairbanks near Livengood to ensure their lines of communication are set up to begin service Wednesday.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

The US Air Force has two squadrons of F-22 and one squadron of F-16 permanently stationed north of 60. It seems to work for them.

To be fair, it's not just an Air Force thing, the US Army also posts infantry battalions to Alaska -- I don't think the Canadian Army has had a regular battalion north of 60 since 1RCR served in the Klondike.

Not only does Alaska have a large military presence, but it also has a substantial population. For example, Anchorage has a population of 400K or so; Eight communities with a pop. of 25K+; plus a lot of smaller communities.