How Good Is The World's Most Expensive Fighter Jet?

[Stitch]

Interesting segment this morning on NPR about the F-35:

How Good Is The World's Most Expensive Fighter Jet? : NPR

[Jimmy]

Those prices are laughable, and completely in line with predictions. GG Congress.

[GrayGhost1975]

Wasn't one of reasons for stopping production of the F-22 was because it was "the world's most expensive fighter jet"?

[gunnut]

Wasn't one of reasons for stopping production of the F-22 was because it was "the world's most expensive fighter jet"?

There will always be a "world's most expensive" anything.

Just like the "top 1%." Take them away, the next 1% is the top 1%.

[GrayGhost1975]

I know. I know the F-35 has its issues, but some of its critics seem to think that we can simply keep rolling out our current 70's & 80's designs for another 20-30 years. Well, we can.....but the combat loss rate won't be pretty.

[zraver]

I know. I know the F-35 has its issues, but some of its critics seem to think that we can simply keep rolling out our current 70's & 80's designs for another 20-30 years. Well, we can.....but the combat loss rate won't be pretty.

The problem is the F-35 seems to be trying to do, too much and delivering too little. As a bomb truck for missions that need big ordnance or lots of it say hitting a hard target with 1 ton PGM's or being able to loiter and support a battalion with CAS missions its not stealthy at all since it has to carry external tanks and ordnance.

Its too slow to be an interceptor as well.

As a SEAD platform, photo recon or supporting covert units its probably ideal but that is about it.

For most of the air force missions buying Boeing's Silent Eagle would be a much better bet. Faster, longer ranged, bigger weapons load out, better radar capability and a still decent reduction in radar signature.

[Maxor]

A huge part of the problem is that you also need to spread the development and tooling costs over a sizable number of air frames as well as training and supply lines. Once you start purchasing in mass the costs go way down. Just saying.

[Jimmy]

And yet the F-35 will still be in F-22 territory, price-wise.

[tuna]

The problem is the Air Force keeps wanting Leatherman tools that do everything - and none of the jobs get done well.

I carry a Leatherman, but when I know a job needs doing - I go to toolbox and get the right tool. Likewise, if you need CAS call the "Hawgs of war", if you need counterair, call the "mighty mighty Eagles", etc.

The F-35 is simply too expensive as a Leatherman to have thrown around where you may need it (think of it as keeping a multi-tool in your desk, glove box, hunting pack, and belt, etc...we could keep a squadron or two of F-35s in the MidEast, Pacific, etc)

[tankie]

Dya's wanna buy some Typhoons :whome:

[YellowFever]

Dya's wanna buy some Typhoons :whome:

We're not that desperate yet.

Get back to us if the Russians refuse to sell us their Sukhois.

[tankie]

We're not that desperate yet.

Get back to us if the Russians refuse to sell us their Sukhois.

pfffffffffffffffftttttttttt Ohhhhhhhh yes you are , but now coz u said that , the price is gonna go up

[Stitch]

We're not that desperate yet.

Get back to us if the Russians refuse to sell us their Sukhois.

Shoot, let's just stoop even lower than that and see if the Frog's will sell us some of their Rafale's . . . . . .

[Jimmy]

If we're going that route, we can just pull the R/C gear out of the rest of the QF-4s.

[zraver]

If we're going that route, we can just pull the R/C gear out of the rest of the QF-4s.

Been any movement on the plan to turn refitted and increased stealthed B-1's into Amraam- D trucks for F-22's well ahead of them?