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What is up with the F-35? Part II

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  • New SefDef wants to officially compare the F-35C with an upgraded F-18...

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    • Boeing tried the thing with a heavily modified, 'stealthy' F-15. And got knocked back by the DoD.

      The problem is they want to stay in the fighter game but after losing out early on in the bidding process for a next gen fighter they don't have a new design to offer, so they're stuck with remodeling old ones.
      Last edited by Monash; 31 Jan 17,, 13:06.
      If you are emotionally invested in 'believing' something is true you have lost the ability to tell if it is true.

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      • Originally posted by Monash View Post
        Boeing tried the thing with a heavily modified, 'stealthy' F-15. And got knocked back by the DoD.
        Yeah but, at the time, it made some sense, considering the small size of the F-22 fleet, the quick aging of the F-15 fleet, and no replacement in sight. Afaik, it didn't involve the F-35.

        The real problem is that, today, the US has someone on charge who made a bunch of ridiculous campaign promises (and tweets...) and is hell-bent on carrying them out, no matter what...

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        • $600 million supposed savings later, Trump now claims F35 program is now in "good shape" and Lockheed is now doing a "great job" says he "appreciate LM for being so responsive". The F35 is now a "great plane":

          http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/30/trump...e-fighter.html

          Meanwhile AF added 5 F35As to FY2017 budget request.

          http://www.defensenews.com/articles/...-more-aircraft
          Last edited by citanon; 31 Jan 17,, 22:54.

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          • Anyone want to guess how many Lockheed stock options he's just been gifted?
            Last edited by Monash; 01 Feb 17,, 07:07.
            If you are emotionally invested in 'believing' something is true you have lost the ability to tell if it is true.

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            • Originally posted by citanon View Post
              $600 million supposed savings later, Trump now claims F35 program is now in "good shape" and Lockheed is now doing a "great job" says he "appreciate LM for being so responsive". The F35 is now a "great plane":

              http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/30/trump...e-fighter.html

              Meanwhile AF added 5 F35As to FY2017 budget request.

              http://www.defensenews.com/articles/...-more-aircraft
              According to the knowledgeable people, this is just Trump taking credit for costs that would have been lower in anycase.

              Not a bad thing, anything that smooths the wheels of it introductory process.

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              • F35As just went 15:1 against advanced air threats at Red Flag:

                http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mi...flag-excercise

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                • New prices for LRIP 10 are out that put the F-35A below the cost of a Super Hornet.

                  The LRIP 10 contract includes 55 jets for the U.S. Services and 35 jets for international partners and foreign military sales customers:
                  • 44 F-35A for the U.S. Air Force
                  • 9 F-35B for the U.S. Marine Corps
                  • 2 F-35C for the U.S. Navy
                  • 3 F-35B for UK
                  • 6 F-35A for Norway
                  • 8 F-35A for Australia
                  • 2 F-35A for Turkey
                  • 4 F-35A for Japan
                  • 6 F-35A for Israel
                  • 6 F-35A for South Korea


                  F-35 Costs:
                  The Lot 10 contract represents a $728 million reduction in total price when compared to Lot 9. The approximate per variant unit prices, including jet, engine and fee are as follows:
                  • F-35A: $94.6 million (7.3% reduction from Lot 9)
                  • F-35B: $122.8 million (6.7% reduction from Lot 9)
                  • F-35C $121.8 million (7.9% reduction from Lot 9)

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                  • Originally posted by LongLurker View Post
                    According to the knowledgeable people, this is just Trump taking credit for costs that would have been lower in anycase.

                    Not a bad thing, anything that smooths the wheels of it introductory process.
                    Knowledgeable sources say the real credit for the savings should go to the Air Force director of the program, Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, and that this has "been in the works for many months":

                    F-35A Drops Below $100M; Trump Pentagon Trumpets Jobs

                    Either way, this now gets the initial cost of the F-35 down around where they predicted it would be 10 years ago.
                    "There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

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                    • Originally posted by jlvfr View Post
                      Yeah but, at the time, it made some sense, considering the small size of the F-22 fleet, the quick aging of the F-15 fleet, and no replacement in sight. Afaik, it didn't involve the F-35.

                      The real problem is that, today, the US has someone on charge who made a bunch of ridiculous campaign promises (and tweets...) and is hell-bent on carrying them out, no matter what...
                      The problem with the silent eagle and other schemes is that detection range scales as the 4th root of RCs. So you have to reduce rcs by a lot to get a useful amount of stealth.

                      We are lucky that Trump is a lot smarter than Trudeau.

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                      • Originally posted by citanon View Post
                        The problem with the silent eagle and other schemes is that detection range scales as the 4th root of RCs. So you have to reduce rcs by a lot to get a useful amount of stealth.

                        We are lucky that Trump is a lot smarter than Trudeau.
                        Boeing is attempting something similar with the F-18E/F/G, calling it the "Advanced Super Hornet"; I think this is what Trump meant when he said "a comparable F-18 Super Hornet". The so-called "Advanced Super Hornet" would include additional conformal fuel tanks to increase range (similar to the "saddle tanks" on the F-16 Block 60 & 70), a low-observable weapons pod with the option of a built-in IRST21 wide-band infrared sensor, a next-gen heads-down display, increased thrust engines (the F414 EPE), and an upgraded AN/APG-79 AESA radar (probably the AN/APG-79(V)X).
                        "There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

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                        • Originally posted by Stitch View Post
                          Boeing is attempting something similar with the F-18E/F/G, calling it the "Advanced Super Hornet"; I think this is what Trump meant when he said "a comparable F-18 Super Hornet". The so-called "Advanced Super Hornet" would include additional conformal fuel tanks to increase range (similar to the "saddle tanks" on the F-16 Block 60 & 70), a low-observable weapons pod with the option of a built-in IRST21 wide-band infrared sensor, a next-gen heads-down display, increased thrust engines (the F414 EPE), and an upgraded AN/APG-79 AESA radar (probably the AN/APG-79(V)X).
                          Right. Trump probably told Boeing he'll apply savings from AF one towards funding the advanced hornet, which will turn into an upgrade program for the Navy. Then he turned around and told Lockheed that the hornet will be competed against the lightening.

                          Of course Mary Barra saw right through this, but you have to fluff him a little anyways by talking up and increasing a little bit planned cost decreases.

                          In return she probably got promise of a faster buy.

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                          • Possible fix to landing gear about to be tested by the USN, because of the prolems on catapulting. If that doesn't work "it may require the Navy more extensive fixes to the nose gear and the helmet display". Ie, lots more time & money...

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                            • Originally posted by citanon View Post
                              Right. Trump probably told Boeing he'll apply savings from AF one towards funding the advanced hornet, which will turn into an upgrade program for the Navy. Then he turned around and told Lockheed that the hornet will be competed against the lightening.

                              Of course Mary Barra saw right through this, but you have to fluff him a little anyways by talking up and increasing a little bit planned cost decreases.

                              In return she probably got promise of a faster buy.
                              Ah-hah! I was right! The ASH is back on the table, but now they're calling it the F/A-18XT Super Hornet; same plane as the ASH, just a new name for the new President:

                              President Trump Hints at Large Order of New Advanced F/A-18XT Super Hornets
                              "There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by Stitch View Post
                                Ah-hah! I was right! The ASH is back on the table, but now they're calling it the F/A-18XT Super Hornet; same plane as the ASH, just a new name for the new President:

                                President Trump Hints at Large Order of New Advanced F/A-18XT Super Hornets
                                Aaaaand up goes Boeing stocks... untill the USN says "hell no"...

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