Something is going on with the F-35. Why do I say that? Because I've seen this "bullshit" before.
First. Have you noticed the whole spat of articles that have come out in support of the F-35? Then this video hits this morning? Additionally the articles aren't containing any new information...they're just fluff pieces designed to say that all is well with the program.
Then you have that stealth budget request for additional F-35's that was stuck in the war funding bill...along with Apache helicopters for the Army (a sweetener to keep them from screaming at the top of their lungs).
What is going on? I have no idea. I do know that the political winds have shifted and that a Republican takeover of the Senate seems more likely than ever. I know that budget hawks hold sway over the Republican party...alot more than the Neo-cons.
Then we have the continuing budget drama. Obama Care is going to cost more than expected. Sequestration is expected to continue. And on top of all of that is unexpected spending on an unexpected war.
Budget? Could it be that they see a fiscal trainwreck coming? Allies? Is someone getting cold feet and about to cut orders (I keep hearing that Italy is about to go down to 45...a yellow bird landed on my window sill).
I just don't know but whenever I see a PR blitz I get suspicious.
It's actually a number of things. The fix for a defective engine part is getting a lot of attention. Bogdan claims it will be done by year's end, but that's up in the air. The Navy has carrier trials for the F-35C scheduled for next month and it will be a whole lot of bad PR if they wind up pushing them out to next month due to problems. The Navy is also shooting to get the Advanced Super Hornet.
ReplyDeleteIf a nation is considering cutting its numbers or cutting itself out of the equation entirely, then such an announcement could cause a domino effect and give others room to cut or kill their own purchases.
Sol, the situation appears to be worse than even I imagined. Air Force Chief of Staff just said that the existing planes in the USAF are falling apart. Anther General, Mike Hostage, just said that he doesn't want to retire the A-10 because there is no replacement, meaning he just said that the F-35A can't do the A-10's job, despite all the LM propaganda that says it can.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/09/11/f-15-crash-raises-concerns-on-aging-fleet/
http://defensetech.org/2014/09/16/general-we-dont-have-a-replacement-for-a-10-u-2/
Two USAF generals making such statements so closely spaced is sending some signals. Something is definitely going on in the JSF program and it looks like it's coming from the USAF side of things.
The first link I posted was the wrong link. Here's the Air Force Chief of Staff's related article: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/09/16/welsh-on-aging-fleets-airplanes-are-falling-apart/
ReplyDeleteI also noticed the proF35 crowd coming out in force, seems LMT might know some bad news is coming out and they want to preempt it. Couple of guesses:
ReplyDelete-Seen twice now that F35C trials might be pushed back from Oct? Maybe USN is getting really serious about AdvSH?
-Europe economy still not great, Italy buy could be under pressure?
-Scotland independence? If yes wins, UK has to divest some assets to Scotland and I'm sure they will have to move more assets,etc....could F35 buy be reduced to pay for UK to move it's SSBNs?
-F135 engine problem? NOW, it was a more "aggressive" maneuver that caused the engine problem and not a "fairly benign"one that was announced just last week, why the change in tone?
-More software problems?
My 2 cents....
I noticed SMSgtMac poked his head up after a long silence for a diatribe on a F-35 critic.
Deletelol, yeah. I found sferrin returning on another site.
DeletePonzi schemes eventually do fail. Some at different rates than others.
ReplyDeleteIf this system works, all you will need is a X -47B tipe to send the info to the Silent Eagles, Growlers or ASH. The USNavy has something like that working already.
ReplyDeletehttp://aviationweek.com/defense/5th-4th-gen-fighter-comms-competition-eyed-fiscal-2015