USAF Woes

[quadrapiper]

From the Cdr:
From day one, people warned that the F-35 as a joint program was not going to work, that it would make the F-111 program look like a success.

Of course, they were right. There are successful joint programs, C-130, F-4, A-1, OV-10, etc - but they did not start out that way. Other services just adopted what another built.

Not sure if this is significant - if it marks a shift in US service politics, say - but all, also, originating a fairly long time ago.

A final warning from author of the blog:
Just say "No." Wish the USAF well, but go our own way. Let them create the unaffordable with lasers and no-heat engines that might fly by 2045 - but lets move forward on something that we can afford more than one squadron of and start production in 2020. Something that actually meets the needs of the Fleet and Marines ashore.

Would aligning with USMC/USN aircraft procurement specifically be worth considering, and, as the Cdr says, keep away from USAF projects?

 

[MarkOttawa]

See, based on AvWeek's Bill Sweetman (based on Arthur C. Clarke):

“Opinion: Timeless Insight Into Why Military Programs Go Wrong”
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/mark-collins-opinion-timeless-insight-into-why-military-programs-go-wrong/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Journeyman]

See, based on AvWeek's Bill Sweetman (based on Arthur C. Clarke):
“Opinion: Timeless Insight Into Why Military Programs Go Wrong”
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/mark-collins-opinion-timeless-insight-into-why-military-programs-go-wrong/

:nod:

I was directed to this earlier this week, and agree whole-heartedly!

The best 4,000 words you’ll ever read about 21st-century defense procurement were written more than 60 years ago by a former Royal Air Force radar boffin, Arthur C. Clarke,...who would go on to become a lauded science-fiction luminary.....


It might be a coincidence that Clarke’s arrogant scientist is named Professor-General Norden....

I wonder how many folks will get that last line. 

 

[Old Sweat]

:nod:

I was directed to this earlier this week, and agree whole-heartedly!I wonder how many folks will get that last line. 

Can you spell pickle barrel?

 

[Journeyman]

Can you spell pickle barrel?

OK, that's one.  ;D

 

[CougarKing]

No more buyers after Iraq? Perhaps Egypt may want another loan so they can "buy" more F16s?

Flight Global

Lockheed’s long-running F-16 line in Fort Worth going cold

    18 March, 2016 BY: James Drew Washington DC

On the 45th anniversary of the F-16 lightweight fighter’s first flight, Lockheed Martin faces the very real prospect of turning off "Fighting Falcon" production as prospective customers like Pakistan struggle to clear the US government’s regulatory and funding processes.

After assembling more than 4,500 F-16s in almost 140 different configurations, the Fort Worth, Texas production line is thawing from hot to lukewarm and could go cold by “about the end of 2017” after Lockheed delivers the remaining seven of 36 Iraqi F-16IQs.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

Yet more food for thought on why the F-22 line should be restarted as opposed to investing in the 6th Gen. fighter project already:

Aviationist

Here’s why the U.S. should restart the F-22 Raptor production line instead of developing a sixth generation fighter
Mar 30 2016 -
By Dario Leone
With some tweaks the F-22 Raptor can maintain the edge over the future fighters the U.S. adversaries are developing.

The development of a sixth generation fighter should not be a top priority for the U.S Air Force given that, according to Rob Weiss, executive vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s legendary Skunk Works division, regular updates to the F-22 and F-35 would keep the edge of the current U.S. stealth fighters over China’s and Russia’s future fifth generation warplanes.

Weiss recently told to DefenseOne.com, that these aircraft already enable the U.S. to have a distinct advantage over the capabilities its adversaries are developing and that a replacement for today’s F-22 and F-35 fighter jets isn’t needed anytime soon: “We’ve done this analysis for more than a decade now and it’s clear that the fifth-generation F-22s and F-35s are very capable versus a threat and substantially more capable than any fourth-generation airplane. There’s, in our view, little point in developing a new airplane that doesn’t do anything more than what you can do as you modernize F-22s and F-35s.”

Instead the Pentagon should invest in developing “truly game-changing technologies and capabilities” that will be part of the future sixth-generation fighter whose development, added Weiss, should start in a decade or more from now.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[MilEME09]

or I would argue restart the F-22 lines, but also hold a new competition between the FB-22 Strike Raptor, and the bomber version of the YF-23 that northrop is pitching, and bang it's a Eagle/Strike Eagle scenario

 

[CBH99]

While restarting the F-22 lines may be expensive, it is much more affordable than designing a 6th generation fighter.  I believe this would make a lot more sense given the current fiscal realities, plus it seems premature to start working on a 6th generation fighter when your 5th generation fighter is still shaking off its teething problems.

Eventually, obviously, one day work will have to begin on the next generation of aircraft.  But lets see what potential the 5th generation fighters have, before we start diving into a 6th generation fighter.  Look at how far the F-15, F-16, F-18, Typhoon, etc. aircraft have come from their initial design, to what they are today.

It will be interesting to see what an F-35 is capable of 15yrs from now.

 

[tomahawk6]

In the meantime build a 6th or 7th generation BVR air to air missile.The great equalizer.

 

[CougarKing]

Another delay?

Defense News

Air Force: Boeing Tanker Issue Could Delay Production Decision
Lara Seligman, Defense News 11:09 a.m. EDT April 1, 2016

WASHINGTON – An issue that prevented Boeing’s KC-46 tanker from transferring fuel to a US Air Force C-17 during a recent test could delay the start of production of the new aircraft, according to the Air Force.

During a recent test of the tanker’s refueling boom, higher than expected axial loads prevented the transfer of fuel of a C-17 transport plane, service spokesman Daryl Mayer said April 1. The boom, a rigid, telescoping tube that an operator on the tanker extends to and inserts into a receptacle on the receiving aircraft, is used to refuel most Air Force aircraft.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

Wouldn't previous Congressional oversight or the bureaucracy have caught something like this?

Defense News

Air Force squandered millions of dollars on excess C-130J parts, IG says
Phillip Swarts, Air Force Times 8:02 a.m. EDT April 2, 2016

The Air Force mismanaged its inventory of spare C-130J Super Hercules parts, building up a stockpile worth tens of millions of dollars, according to a newly released report by the Pentagon’s top watchdog.

Maintenance and contracting officials were primarily focused on ensuring that spare parts were available and effective, but didn’t have adequate controls in place to prevent unneeded parts from being purchased, said the DoD Inspector General.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[Kirkhill]

What is an unnecessary spare when airframes, ships and guns are staying in service decades longer than their manufacturers?

That forty year old engine sitting in its original shipping container at the back of the warehouse suddenly has value.

 

[CougarKing]

Time to "resurrect this dead horse" instead of merely beating its carcass:  :blotto:

Defense News

House Legislation Orders F-22 Restart Study
Lara Seligman and Joe Gould, Defense News 6:38 p.m. EDT April 19, 2016


WASHINGTON — Almost five years after Lockheed Martin shut down production of its F-22 stealth fighter jet, House legislation released Tuesday would direct the Air Force to look into restarting the assembly line.

At the direction of then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Lockheed terminated F-22 production at its Marietta, Georgia, and Fort Worth, Texas, facilities after producing just 187 aircraft — far short of the original requirement for 749 jets. But in light of the growing perception that the US military is losing its technological edge to adversaries like Russia and China, Congress has expressed keen interest throughout this year’s budget season in restarting the line. The F-22 has also drawn attention recently from several high-profile deployments to Europe and the Middle East.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[tomahawk6]

Actually we need the F-22 going forward and reopening production is a smart strategic move.The USAF doesnt want more F-22's just like they dont want an A-10 replacement.

 

[CBH99]

Does the USAF not want more F-22's because they would have to admit they were wrong?  Or because they think it will drain their budget, and shift funding away from some of the current priorities?

I only ask because if the USAF wants fast, high tech, fancy toys - hard to beat an upgraded F-22.

 

[MilEME09]

I would say it is a bit of both, A because the F-35 is taking so long, and B because it is expensive to restart a production line. That said, I've heard they have all the tooling and such in storage, so restarting the line could take only a few months. They could off set the costs if the allowed export to select countries that are close US allies. There was a Naval variant in the works which would solve issues about F-18's for the navy.  The FB-22 bomber variant would give heavy ground attack, if they wanted the F-22 could be this generations F-15 with the right amount of money and political will. If they also decided to export it to select partners like us, we could help offset those costs.

 

[CBH99]

They actually don't have the tooling anymore.

I'll try to find some sources in the morning, but if I recall, the USAF actually explored that option.  The crates that were supposed to contain the tooling, blueprints, etc etc - when the USAF went to explore the option, the crates were empty.  From what I remember of the articles (This was in various news articles within the last year) - it was good ol' Lockheed Martin that 'lost' the tooling & design specs.

If they did start up the production line again somehow, the cost could be offset by selling them to select allies.  The F-22 isn't super secret, brand new tech anymore.  They have been operational for quite some time, been running the airshow circuit for a while now, and have deployments all over the world.  Given how many allied air-forces are recapitalizing their fleets right now, it would be an option.

If the Americans wanted to have their own version of an upgraded F-22, and have a version available for export - to help them feel better about keeping their sensitive tech in their own hands, I would understand.  Upgraded engines, radar, various systems, would make one legendary lethal airplane even more lethal.

 

[CBH99]

Actually we need the F-22 going forward and reopening production is a smart strategic move.The USAF doesnt want more F-22's just like they dont want an A-10 replacement.

T6, you mention the USAF doesn't want more F-22's, just like they don't want the A-10.  What does the USAF want?

 

[tomahawk6]

Hypersonic aircraft  [