The F-35B!

[pauldun170]

"Not bad", are you F-ing joking dude?, it's the equivalent of a flying "black-hole" money pit and it can't even come close to the performance of the F-22.

The current F-35 is around the same cost as a new build F-15, Eurofighter Typhoon and Rafale (latest version of each). Multirole capability is expensive. Even F-16's nowadays are pretty pricey (30-60 per unit depending on model).

The F-22 is a completely different class of plane. Completely different mission. Having said that F-22 in its current state is slightly gimped due to budget cuts over the years. It doesn't even have a helmet mounted sight yet.

 

[pauldun170]

more planes = more money. Knocking a few million off the price tag for each in no way makes these exercises in excess excusable. D:

People said the same thing about the F-15 and F-14.

 

[theeedude]

Nice, but time to make room for drones.

 

[Gibsons]

Naval version does have some significant differences (larger wing, frame\gear enhancements) and the cost is based on a lower numbers of planes. For the time being, there are more B variants than C so the cost spread favors the B
More planes, lower $$$.

Technology wise, folding wings and beefier landing gear is stuff that's been done since WW2, at least. I know it's a new plane, but still. Otoh the lifting fan on the B is brand new, never been done before, which usually means DoD level butt$ex.

Yeah I understand the connection between production run length to unit cost. I guess I was just underestimating it here.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

the marine corps DOES NOT need its own aviation. on the other hand, the royal navy does need to get some real carriers.

 

[MongGrel]

I still think the F-35 is a waste myself.

Like the Osprey has been.

 

[Tsavo]

Everyone says these suck and are a waste of money.

Then the world will see how good it is in action, then everyone will be saying, "See? I knew all along that it'd be a really good plane."

 

[Pulsar]

Everyone says these suck and are a waste of money.

Then the world will see how good it is in action, then everyone will be saying, "See? I knew all along that it'd be a really good plane."

Find a pilot of one of these planes that says they suck.... then we'll talk. They're upset with the politicians, the delays, the stupidity of their commanders - but I have yet to see any of the actual pilots say these things don't deliver.

 

[kage69]

the marine corps DOES NOT need its own aviation. on the other hand, the royal navy does need to get some real carriers.

Definitely agree with regard to the Brits, but WWII Pacific theater history indicates you are incorrect regarding the Marines. They're not big on relying on a different chain of command to stay alive in the face of superior numbers or firepower, there is a near universal preference among leathernecks to have air support from those who understand what Marines on the ground go through. Personally, I'm ok with it. It's nothing as silly as say, the Japanese Imperial Army having it's own carrier because it didn't want the Kaigun to have all the big toys. Now that was stupid.

 

[Brainonska511]

As a harrier replacement it's good. For CAS, see some of the documentaries or read accounts where deep recon or seal squads have to call in for support on their perimeter and how difficult it is when nearest available is via "precision" bomb.

Okay, but if they're looking for CAS, it seems like a harrier replacement is kind of stupid. If jets bad because they're too high and fast, how about a newer turbo-prop based plane? They're showing up in other militaries as anti-insurgency platforms. And they could probably operate them off the amphibious assault ships they're using for the F35B. Plus, for CAS, they'd be able to linger longer, they'd still be faster than helicopters, and they'd be likely as effective against low-tech forces as the A10 is. And to top it off, we, the taxpayers, would probably save a bundle of money.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Definitely agree with regard to the Brits, but WWII Pacific theater history indicates you are incorrect regarding the Marines. They're not big on relying on a different chain of command to stay alive in the face of superior numbers or firepower, there is a near universal preference among leathernecks to have air support from those who understand what Marines on the ground go through. Personally, I'm ok with it. It's nothing as silly as say, the Japanese Imperial Army having it's own carrier because it didn't want the Kaigun to have all the big toys. Now that was stupid.

the entire existence of modern marine corps aviation hinges on the the battle of guadalcanal where the navy pulled the carriers back out of vulnerability, denying the marines air support - something that will never be repeated. the minor aviation in place since before ww1 played no part in ww2.

marines' preference for air support from fellow marines is, frankly, bullshit. insisting on this massive redundancy, especially in these financially tight times, would get anyone else laughed out of the room.

thanks for serving. no, you can't have your own special aircraft when your parent (the navy) is 1 of the world's greatest air powers.

 

[MongGrel]

I'm fine with the USMC having aviation, I was in the Air Wing myself myself, not a pilot.

Just some things are a waste of money.

B-2 *cough*

 

[pauldun170]

Okay, but if they're looking for CAS, it seems like a harrier replacement is kind of stupid. If jets bad because they're too high and fast, how about a newer turbo-prop based plane? They're showing up in other militaries as anti-insurgency platforms. And they could probably operate them off the amphibious assault ships they're using for the F35B. Plus, for CAS, they'd be able to linger longer, they'd still be faster than helicopters, and they'd be likely as effective against low-tech forces as the A10 is. And to top it off, we, the taxpayers, would probably save a bundle of money.

If you look at CAS missions recently, you'll see B1b, F15e,B52...all sort of planes.
Modern munitions combined with things like the sniper pod are game changers

 

[BUTCH1]

My comment was obviously sarcastic as fuck.

Also, the F-22 was also a giant ass money pit that is ACTUALLY useless. The F35 at the very least attempted to be a bit less useless, (Though in the process it became a jack of all trades, shitty at all) plane.

Both are giant boondoggles. I would know. I worked on the F35 engine for a bit.

So YOUR responsible for this mess!.. :whiste: JK, the F-22 has performance that is unmatched, but if you figure in the procurement, development, ongoing maintenance, yea another money-pit, I question the wisdom of a single-engine design in a supposed 5th Gen fighter,(F-35) WTF were they thinking?.

 

[DaTT]

"Not bad", are you F-ing joking dude?, it's the equivalent of a flying "black-hole" money pit and it can't even come close to the performance of the F-22.

Doesn't the F-22 cost 3-4 times as much as an F-35....and is currently grounded?

 

[MongGrel]

I'd say a B1b one of the most impressive things built in recent years.

I'd rather a few more of those were laying around...

But I love my BUFF's always.

 

[pauldun170]

Doesn't the F-22 cost 3-4 times as much as an F-35....and is currently grounded?

No
It cost about 35% more as is to be expected when you slash orders from 750 to 100 on a premium fighter.
It is not grounded and has been performing combat missions over Syria.

 

[pauldun170]

I'd say a B1b one of the most impressive things built in recent years.

I'd rather a few more of those were laying around...

But I love my BUFF's always.

They parked a B1b over Syria for hours and just "freedom'd" the piss out of ISIS.

http://time.com/3422702/isil-isis-syria-obama/
http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/08/b-1-circling-kobane-light/
http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/watch-the-looming-b-1-bomber-that-pounded-isis-in-syria-1644025073
http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/this-guy-just-livetweeted-airstrikes-in-syria-from-the-1643512941

 

[Brainonska511]

If you look at CAS missions recently, you'll see B1b, F15e,B52...all sort of planes.
Modern munitions combined with things like the sniper pod are game changers

Yeah. I've seen that - things like over 80% of all CAS missions were run by non-A10 aircraft (eg: B52s, fighter jets, B1b...). But people then say those can't loiter like the A-10, hence my suggestion of turbo-props for anti-insurgency CAS if the fighter jets/bombers supposedly aren't good enough (yet, here the Marines are acquiring the F35...).

 

[BUTCH1]

No
It cost about 35% more as is to be expected when you slash orders from 750 to 100 on a premium fighter.
It is not grounded and has been performing combat missions over Syria.

It's performance is so great that one of it's main issues is how tough it is for the pilot to not experience getting blacked-out during some maneuvers.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

It's performance is so great that one of it's main issues is how tough it is for the pilot to not experience getting blacked-out during some maneuvers.

that describes any fighter since the 60's. f-22 pilots black out because the oxygen system failed.

 

[John Connor]

nerf J10 turn rate pls

So true! LOL. The AIX mode brings the A-10 and someone made the V-22! http://www.moddb.com/mods/allied-intent-xtended/addons/v-22-osprey-aix

Me in AIX. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x62V8tCHOig

 

[JEDIYoda]

Why am I thinking that the back-hinged "hood" over that front thruster seems like a bad idea.

The front hood closure fails or is damaged in a dog fight, aerodynamics and stealth is ruined so the pilot is now a sitting duck because his hood flew open.

I am pretty sure that you are not an engineer....

im pretty sure the aeronautical engineers at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics are way smarter than you at building advanced fighter aircraft.

 

[John Connor]

Nice, but time to make room for drones.

Personally I'm waiting for them to drone the F-22 and F-35. I know the F-22 can do so much more, but the computer limits the pilot's input as not to kill him/her.

 

[John Connor]

Everyone says these suck and are a waste of money.

Then the world will see how good it is in action, then everyone will be saying, "See? I knew all along that it'd be a really good plane."

Just like the Apache.