Do we need a new fighter?

Saw this on Gizmodo:

I didnt even think this was an option. I thought the consensus was that the F-22 will be the last manned fighter the US uses.

The writing style of the author is funny...it is like someone hired a Forum member from here and told them to write a column, heh heh.

 

No. The F-22 and F-35 have turned out to be hot messes. If we absolutely need something, retool the F-16 and F-15E. It would be much cheaper, lower risk, and less bureaucratic bull(*)(*)(*)(*).

 

We need to build fighter drones. The only airplanes we should have with people in them should be ones transporting people.

 

I wouldn't call it a consensus. I would call it speculation on the part of people who are "drone crazy".

Personally I will take manned fighters over drones any day.

 

Already too much.

 

You people are just annoying. I know you're bankrupt, but UK commissioned new aircraft carriers specially adapted to accommodate your new fighter and a shared military force. Now you come along and say the game's a bogey? Call yourself allies...

 

They had the F-22 in development before they even had the 16 in full swing probably. Its going to be the same for every new generation of aircraft made. The only reason to ever replace an aircraft is if the new one is just that much more advanced. That is what 30 years of development gets you. Currently, we do not have enough 22's to replace the aging aircraft we have, and its not looking so well for the 35's either. I think later, we will be kicking ourselves for not buying more 22's because 35's will probably come close to the same cost when it is all size and done. That is just my prediction.

 

Every aircraft ever developed has been a mess right out of development. Once the engineers get the bugs figured out it will be a lot less costly to maintain. No different than when a car MFR comes out with a new model car. The first year will be filled with recalls and headaches. Until these machines are put in to operation, thereis no way to know what needs to be improved or fixed.

 

Viv we cannot always afford it anymore , it;s Frances turn

 

All the hateful anti-American Brits who post on PF have used up all of the goodwill once possessed by the UK. The US and UK are no longer allies or friends.

 

The Eagle and Falcon are dinosaurs. The future belongs to robots.

 

China rules the world then..? I know you can't afford it. And he's just following what has already begun in other countries. Our armed forces are taking swathing cuts. The multi-task aircraft carrier in question won't be ready for eons. It is said it will be enabled for your fighters and France's and an international force. Well one did not expect the French would make it as they are also up financial (*)(*)(*)(*) creek, but one expected US...

No, Al, that's just you, but when you are elected President someone will hopefully advise you on a GSOH. We will always be allies and if your country is cutting forces drastically (they often start small and get the big axe out once people are used to the concept of cutbacks) you maybe should consider that as you become less the major military power, you may come to be even more appreciative of an ally which is used to fighting wars on a shoestring budget and still managing its point.

 

Remember, you heard it here first.

Albert has spoken for his country and the majority of posters on PF. I didn't realise he had such a following that he had proxies to speak for all of them.

Congratulations, Albert. YOU ARE THE MAN!

 

Bankrupt? Psh. We are all in the same boat. Nothing new.

I do not remember the F-15 or F-16 poisoning aircrew or being nearly as expensive of a project, inciting as many premature boners as the Craptor. Face it. The F-22 needs a lot of help right now and it is making out to be a steamy pile. I hope I am wrong one day. We cannot enforce the NFZs for the rest of the century. Also, this is not the first year for the -22.

And less costly to maintain? God (*)(*)(*)(*) I sure hope so. I really hope it does not cost the lives of some of the country's greatest pilots once the kinks are worked out. Oh right, the investigation board deemed hypoxia as "pilot error."

The force reduction seems drastic, but is really not when you break it down. Sure the Army is taking a 14% cut and they can afford to lose a lot more. There is a lot of fat that needs to be trimmed off. Although I would prefer to see us stop doing contract work with Halliburton than cutting even the most useless personnel, but that affects Congress' pay and it will never happen.

You missed the inauguration thread? Tragic.

 

The F-22 is not good enough! We need robotech!

 

You use a biased web site to show your hate for defense spending. With Obama gutting the military and getting rid of half a million troops we will not be able to afford it. But Obama will protect his special interest groups and entitlements.

 

While I agree with about everyone that drones will continue to have a larger roll in the future, because we'll probably keep stomping on third world countries. But jamming, and whacking communication satellites, would be too easy for a near-peer opponent.

So you either need some aircraft with pilots or you need to let an AI fly completely on its own. And I don't know that we're there just yet, especially while we still care so much about collateral damage.

Heh. The F-22 was strictly an airfield proposition, and this sounds like it would be similar. So no competition for the F-35 just yet.

 

Fighters!! That means air to air and thus your looking at it the wrong way. Manned aircraft wont remain in that specialisation, rather missiles will evolve up into it. The F22 will surely be the last purebreed dedicated 'fighter' and even now they are giving it a ground attack capability.

 

What are you talking about? The -22 has always had the capability to drop JDAMs, but it will not be used in an a/g role because it was never designed for that as a primary role.

 

Yea and a Cessna can drop bundles of cocaine, big deal. Are you suggesting that its design had comprimises to enable it to achieve better in the air-ground role? Not to mention I thought it entered production with its avionics not configured properly for air ground operations. The point of the thread was design and building fighters, so my point was that the F22 was designed for air-air, which you even agreed with. What are you talking about?

 

VROOOM!

You said "even now" as if "giving" the -22 a/g capabilities is something new. It is not. Even before its first flight at EDW they were entertaining that idea. Hence why that is the only part I responded to.

(This is not necessarily directed at you, so do not (*)(*)(*)(*)(*) about it) I will share a little insight- no, we are not playing around with the -22 in a/g situations. It lacks a targeting pod and SAR mapping radar. That means it is not very effective in that role. Yes, you can retrieve updated coordinates from non-mobile targets, arm the JDAM, and pickle, but think about the practicality of that. If you spent more than a second thinking about it, you wasted your time because there is nothing practical about it.

 

I see no need for a new fighter, even a newer than the Tom Cat or ! Well that is pushing it, ha ha, however, the F-15 and F-16 are good enough for a few years maybe a decade point five. However we should cast a wary eye China's way while we stretch out the lifespan of our older fighters.

For the USA to get a leg up over the our persistent recession we are going to endure a few cuts. I love the military, the hard ware and such things, but its not worth going the way of the USSR!

Rev A

 

No one likes the stupid Brits. Bunch of toothless poorly equipped peasants.

Actually, no one really likes the Canadians either except me. I'm your country's biggest fan.

 

The Anglosphere has no future because British leftists and Americans conservatives can't get along under any circumstances. The dissension is a fatal weakness for an alliance.

 

oops the sentence should have said " I see no need for a new fighter, even a newer than the F-15 or F-16". I had to pinch off a loaf and when I got back the time limit had expired~

Rev A