Originally Posted by
KC10 FATboy
I'm very serious and don't go off the deep-end by making suggestions on what I may or may not believe (ref. carriers).
I think my point was valid. UAVs are the wave of the future and pilot-less aircraft bring more to the table than manned ones. As a pilot, I don't like it, but it is the future.
We also need to look at what other countries know. Technology wise, their fighters can't hang. However, when they throw mass numbers of old cheap technology in the air, even the F-22 is a sitting duck.
We need to start looking at our total force and deciding where the money is best spent. The previous USAF administration sold people, parts, and planes to buy the F-22. Now we we realizing just how destructive those cuts have become.
Ironically, we still don't have a tanker replacement for the KC135s and our KC10s have just as much flying time as the KC135s. And how many of our big airplanes are GATMS compliant? The FAA will probably give us an exception to operate, but, I wouldn't hold your breath on ICAO.
These are just a handful of big issues with even bigger pricetags that have been put on the back burner while we sold out for the F-22.
-Fatty
Fatty,
No deep end implied with the carrier comment, was simply an example to your argument that's all. No insult intended whatsoever.
Your argument for unmanned aircraft is very valid, however, in terms of what F-22 and JSF bring to the table, I challenge you to program an aircraft or a dude behind a console to be able to make the real time decisions necessary or more importantly maneuver his airplane in such a way to save it if needed during an engagement or an intercept. Best served for a discussion elsewhere and not on this board. It is what it is.
The previous USAF leadership did not sell out on their own but the number of aircraft they wanted was severely cut on line item cuts to a budget. To save what they could, yes cuts were made. The tanker buy is an apple in comparison to an orange with a whole bunch of other challenges. Certainly you're more well versed to the status of the tanker community. I'm here to tell you that the strike fighter shortfall is real and pending and no UCAV or UAV program is going to fix that shortfall. I would venture to say that that shortfall is being felt across the board for the USAF as well.
As long as the mission requires air supremecy the need for platforms like F-22 and JSF will continue to exist.