Add this as another consequence of the discovery of the J-20.
How does the multi-year buy of Super Hornets look now? Information Dissemination ran an article in which he quotes Stephen Trimble on the cost savings of buying the Super Hornet.
You don't want to pick up Stephen's math and run with it, because if you do, you'll realize the Navy could replace every Hornet in inventory with a Block II, add an extra squadron of Block IIs to all 11 carrier air wings, add an 11th Carrier Air Wing, and still save money by sticking with SHs and choosing not to buy the Joint Strike Fighter.Read the whole thing but something is readily apparent. If the US Navy has any chance of projecting power into the near future, it must acquire F-35C's.
Is the Joint Strike Fighter really worth all the extra money? It better be, but I remain unconvinced. It is clear the low number from Boeing explains the large order of 124, compared to the original estimates of ~70 a few years ago.
UPDATE!
It seems that "Air Power Australia" has an "assessment" of the J-20 out. Read it here. They take the view that the J-20 will sweep the skies of all enemies, causing allied pilots to have nightmares. Let me be clear! I want an increase in the buy of the F-35 so that we can maintain our air superiority in light of these emerging threats.
I might be in the minority, but I believe that the F-35 will give us the edge necessary to keep us in control of the skies for years to come. As far as the F-18 is concerned? Not quite as confident. While I believe it would be competitive against most airplanes, the appearance of stealth fighters from threat countries is worrisome.
Below photo is from Stephen Trimble's DewLine blogspot. Does this 'advanced' F/A-18 look like it will be good enough now?
I don't understand your comment. Are you saying the Navy cannot project power in the near future with the -18E/F? If they cannot project power in the near future, can they project it today?
ReplyDeleteof course they can project power now.
ReplyDeletei thought it self explanatory but the statement regards purchasing more F-18's now and reducing the buys of F-35's now that we know that the J-20 is out there.
Thanks for answering.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that the Chinese can wring out a new airframe and put it into production before enough F-35Cs hit the fleet? I don't believe the latest F-35 schedule either, but it can't slip a decade more can it?
i don't think they can mess up the schedule anymore...and i don't think that they can the Chinese will have the J-20 up and moving to perfection inside of another 5 years...but i think it'll have a limited operational capability in a year or two.
ReplyDeletea further buy of F-18's, especially a multi-year buy could put Navy aviation at risk because they'll be locked into an airplane that isn't suitable for future wars.
i say stop buying the F-18 and increase the buy of F-35C!
Unfortunately, I fear that all the J-20 hoopla will encourage the USN to bypass the F-35C as much as possible, and ask for a boatload of money to invest in generation-after-next N-ATF-X.
ReplyDeleteCombined with N-UCAS, the USN still has a - valid - requirement for a naval F/A-22 type, combining both long-range (supercruise) intercept and deep strike roles, preferable with a two-man crew. N-UCAS is a great capability, but still ways off from actual IOC.
Plus both Boeing (and LM) will be looking for a next, future combat aircraft as the F-35 is maturing, the FA-18EF orders filled and will eventually wind-down.
you're almost there...the next shoe to drop is the fiction of a deep strike UAV.
ReplyDeletehow survivable is a uav that is incapable of some type of self defense?
heck, unless they're programmed to drop flares or take evasive action, we'd be doing better to develop high speed cruise missiles....
as it is now, a trainer with appropriate air to air missiles is more than a match against a uav...and we haven't even began to discuss SAM sites.
no the Navy is getting screwed with the F-18 deal. i believe they actually believed that it would be good enough for the next 20 years.
not so much anymore.
Sol, no offense but you don't seem to have any fucking idea what "power projection" means and what it entails.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteno offense taken..but please understand that I don't give a rats ass what you fucking think. kiss my ass you son of a bitch.
@Anoymous A-hole:
ReplyDelete"Sol, no offense but you don't seem to have any fucking idea what "power projection" means and what it entails. "
Maybe you could educate us. Is there something being missed that transforms the "Super" Hornet into something other than it is that we're missing?
-sferrin