Dunford says F-15X fills capacity and capabilities that the F-35 can't provide...AND IS CHEAPER TO OPERATE!

via Air Force Magazine.

The Pentagon’s decision to add new F-15EXs to its budget request for the Air Force, a move not requested by the service itself, was based on a lack of capability and capacity of the current fleet and the presumptive cheaper cost of the Eagles, the military’s top uniformed officer told lawmakers on Thursday.

The Pentagon’s fiscal 2020 budget request includes about $1 billion for eight F-15EX “advanced Eagles,” a decision that stemmed from former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee the “framework” of the decision came from a study of the future needs of the military’s tactical aircraft fleet, which showed the Air Force had a shortage in its number of aircraft and the amount of ordnance those aircraft could carry.

"Then they had the F-15C, which was aging out in the 2027-2028 period," he said "So, within the next five or 10 years the best solution was to go to the F-15, called the EX, platform to backfill the F-15. Eventually we’ll get to an all F-35 program, but from both a cost perspective and a capability perspective, this particular mix of aircraft for the near term was determined to be the right mix of aircraft.”

The F-15EX initially would only be “slightly” cheaper to buy than a new F-35, it will be more than 50 percent cheaper than the Joint Strike Fighter to operate over its life. Additionally, it has “twice as many hours” in terms of how long it lasts.

Story here. 

Just plain wow!

The F-15EX has capability that the F-35 doesn't have at this time.  Makes me wonder about those Red Flag exercises.

Next it helps explain the US Navy decision to continue buys of the Super Hornet.

We got our answer with regard to the study that Mattis commissioned regarding the Super Hornet vs F-35.  Obviously the F-35 didn't do well.

Last is the big news and the huge concern.

The F-15X is going to be 50% cheaper to operate.

This is CRAZY!  That is one of the reasons for being for the F-35.  It's suppose to be cheaper to operate but Dunford says that over the life of the F-15X it will be cheaper.

Mark my words.

They already know this thing is slated to be a hanger queen.