F-14D vs F-35C

[Captain Drunk]

Come to think of it, has anyone ever realised this – ever since the absence of the F-14 the US Navy now has no Mach 2 fighter? That too for God alone knows how long? What an utter sickening feeling for any marine pilot, with the F-18 and JSF not going anywhere beyond Mach 1.8, its like reverting back to the good old days of 1959, just before the USN got their F-4 Phantom.

[Shadowsided]

Come to think of it, has anyone ever realised this – ever since the absence of the F-14 the US Navy now has no Mach 2 fighter? That too for God alone knows how long? What an utter sickening feeling for any marine pilot, with the F-18 and JSF not going anywhere beyond Mach 1.8, its like reverting back to the good old days of 1959, just before the USN got their F-4 Phantom.

You're stupid spped isn't everything. The JSF is a very good plane almost as good as a Raptor.

[TillerNOS]

You're stupid spped isn't everything. The JSF is a very good plane almost as good as a Raptor.

I can't agree since it has only flown on paper.

[Shadowsided]

I can't agree since it has only flown on paper.

Well the prototype has flown and why do you think the real on will fail as well.

[TopHatter]

Well the prototype has flown and why do you think the real on will fail as well.

Because as it's been already pointed out, a prototype is not a production aircraft.

[Captain Drunk]

You're stupid spped isn't everything. The JSF is a very good plane almost as good as a Raptor.

So are Flankers and Tu-160s, that could fire Anti-ship cruise missiles from 800 km away, endangering a US carrier with a whole lot of slow moving JSFs and F-18s on board without the chance of any intercept.

[leib10]

Dude, you're starting to really annoy me and a lot of other people with your fantasy Russian-built planes and their BS capabilities. Grow up and learn that Russian hardware is (generally) ****.

[PubFather]

The political fallout would be bad for the US. $2 billion may not sound a lot for the US but that is for other nations. They will most likely be extremely angry at the US if it pulls out. Afterall, if it pulls out greater than 95% of the funding is cut from the project. That would be a waste for the other nations and they would be forced to take losses and get nothing. They basically sent $2 billion down the drain or whatever amount they spent. I doubt they will be jolly-roger with the US afterwards and will likely not be in any partnership with the US for a while, too.

Again, I dont think the current administration is overly concerned with being popular in Europe. It would really cheese the Italians/Spanish off because they would be left without any current or foreseable replacement for their Harriers. It would cheese the UK/Australia off to some extent - but there may just be a little bit of relief there that good money might not be chasing bad and they have workable alternatives.

If the USA pulls the plug, part of the cost to them might be a refund but given the overall budget for the program, refunds might be considered a price worth paying.

[TopHatter]

Grow up and learn that Russian hardware is (generally) ****.

Oh I wouldn't go that far.
Especially if you don't happen to have a couple hundred million bucks sitting around to purchase the latest ridiculously expensive American fighter.
Russian hardware may not be the prettiest high-speed low-drag gear on the market, but it does it's job pretty good.

On the other hand, when dealing with Russian arms companies, keep one hand on your wallet and the other covering your eyes: So they don't rob (or cheat) you blind. ;)

[HistoricalDavid]

So are Flankers and Tu-160s, that could fire Anti-ship cruise missiles from 800 km away, endangering a US carrier with a whole lot of slow moving JSFs and F-18s on board without the chance of any intercept.

...Flankers can't carry enough of those missiles and Tu-160s are too few in operational numbers.

The danger is not from those but from a regiment Tu-22M3 Backfires swarming to launch salvoes of those missiles.

Most would get intercepted by the SM-2, ESSM and SeaRAM screen but there's the possibility a few will get through and cause major damage.

Which is one of the reasons why the US Navy has 12 CVBGs, currently.

I know you were creaming your shorts at the prospect... Sorry to burst your bubble. :p

but it does it's job pretty good.

What, like the MiG-29?

[canoe]

So are Flankers and Tu-160s, that could fire Anti-ship cruise missiles from 800 km away, endangering a US carrier with a whole lot of slow moving JSFs and F-18s on board without the chance of any intercept.

Ok I might buy that if you can explain how any of those aircraft are going to target a carrier battlegroup 800km's away. The most advanced AWACS system available right now is Amercian and can see ground/low flying targets a maximum of 400 or so kilometers.

Long range is great for targets that don't move but for things that actually can move around you need to be able to see or track what your shooting at.

[Bill]

Of course it did! Cheney is in the whitehouse, we went to war in the persian gulf,, time to cancel a Boeing/McDonnell program! Let's see,, which program shall we cancel to fund this war,, eeenie meeenie miney Comanche.

LOL! Great post bro....

"Einey, meenie, meiney, COMMANCHE!"

LOL.....BRILLIANT!!! :)

[highsea]

Ok I might buy that if you can explain how any of those aircraft are going to target a carrier battlegroup 800km's away.

Lol. Doesn't really matter, since any air-launched AShM fired from 800km is going to run out of fuel about 500km from the target.

[TopHatter]

What, like the MiG-29?

All depends on what the opponent is flying and how well he flys it.

Not every country is equipped with 5th gen fighters flown by painstakingly trained pilots that attend Red Flag every year.

[Bill]

Lol. Doesn't really matter, since any air-launched AShM fired from 800km is going to run out of fuel about 500km from the target.

The AS-6 Kingfish has a range of 300 miles doesn't it?

I gotta be honest, i do not see F-18E/Fs stopping a multi-axis, multi-regiment Backfire/AS-6 attack, nor even coming close.

All i can say is, if that happens, Aegis had better work as advertised or we're in deep shiit.