F-35 Too Expensive: US Air Force Might Buy 72 New F-15 or F-16 Fighter Jets

[Archie]

Hi,

No they are not---. They are still the best----. A crack here a crack here---it happens with every new aircraft--. What is critical is what do you do after you find the issues.

The only thing junk used to be made in america cars----.

That crack happened after 6850 Hrs of Flight Testing on a single airframe
U do realize that 4th gen aircrafts like F16s and Mirage 2000 only have 6000 Hrs of airframe life before needing major overhaul and structural repairs as well as MLU

 

[saadee]

Just looked for the source article, and it's Bill Sweetman.

Seems to be puffing up a list of budget options/ alternatives prepared by the DoD for Congress and possibly the new administration and adding a bunch of 'maybe's' and 'considering's'. Probably just to show them that the F-35 bulk buy is in fact the best option.

Consider the quote from the article.

Don't know what was wrong with YF-23 Black widow.

 

[TOPGUN]

There we have it boys and girls more vipers will serve the USAF ... now shows many what kind of killer viper really is for those haters that like to live in dream land with lost wet dreams wake up.

 

[Penguin]

Another proof that made in america products are junks.

Right. You have no idea what testing is for, do you? Esp. durability testing.
hint: sometimes you deliberately test something to destruction.

 

[war&peace]

No they are not---. They are still the best----. A crack here a crack here---it happens with every new aircraft--. What is critical is what do you do after you find the issues.

F-35 has real issues with design and performance and their own experts and pilots are not that happy with it.

The only thing junk used to be made in america cars----.

Minus Tesla

 

[nForce]

It is a good thing that killing machines are becoming prohibitively expensive.
Imagine a World, where the only weapon that you have is a stick!

 

[KAL-EL]

Right. You have no idea what testing is for, do you? Esp. durability testing.
hint: sometimes you deliberately test something to destruction.

Of course this particular false flagger has absolutely no idea. In addition, he could care less about your answer (or learning from it)

His only interest was making sure he inserted one of his usual clichéd troll comments. Not delving into the nuances of the subject matter.

 

[Viper 94]

Air Platforms
Wing spar cracks found on USN F-35 variant
Marina Malenic, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
15 November 2015

An F-35C conducts its first arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in 2014. The Pentagon has discovered F-35C wing spar cracks during durability testing that will require modifications to the aircraft. Source: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelly M Agee
Key Points

• Pentagon testers have discovered cracks in a main structural element of the F-35C's wing
• Government and prime contractor engineering teams are formulating a solution, and retrofits are planned on existing aircraft

Pentagon testers have discovered cracks in a main structural element of the wing on the C-model of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a spokesman for the Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) confirmed on 13 November.

During a late October inspection of the F-35C durability testing ground article, a crack was found in one of its 13 wing spars, Joe DellaVedova told IHS Jane's . Government and prime contractor engineering teams are formulating a solution, he added.

"Initial estimates indicate a modification of approximately a half a pound to the aircraft will fix it," said DellaVedova. "Modifications to planes flying today will be incorporated to ensure full life operation."

The issue is not expected to affect flying operations for any of the three variants, nor will it alter the US Navy's (USN's) ability to meet its planned Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the C-model in August 2018, according to the JPO. The cost of the retrofits is not yet known.

The F-35C durability test article had already accumulated more than 13,700 test hours, which equates to 6,850 flight hours or more than 20 years of operational flying, according to DellaVedova. "All current F-35Cs flying today have less than 250 flight hours," he added. Durability testing intentionally stresses aircraft to its structural limits by applying cyclic loads to the airframe to simulate operational flying in order to identify weaknesses and potential corrective actions.

Wing spar cracks found on USN F-35 variant | IHS Jane's 360

I have always argued that the marines and british design requirements for a stovl aircraft jeopardized the whole program
marines need short wings to takeoff and land vertically but the navy and airforce need a larger wingspan for their operations
jsf despite of all the advance gadgets will be a poor performing aircraft like the f-4 phantom but worse
if marines are that keen on have airpower of their own with vertical takeoff capability they should stick to helicopters

 

[MastanKhan]

That crack happened after 6850 Hrs of Flight Testing on a single airframe
U do realize that 4th gen aircrafts like F16s and Mirage 2000 only have 6000 Hrs of airframe life before needing major overhaul and structural repairs as well as MLU

Hi,

In that sense---a single frame F16 has supposedly done around 22000 hours or something like that.

This testing is done to see how far the life of a frame will stretch.

F-35 has real issues with design and performance and their own experts and pilots are not that happy with it.

Hi,

I would not dwell too much on that thought.

 

[war&peace]

Hi,

In that sense---a single frame F16 has supposedly done around 22000 hours or something like that.

This testing is done to see how far the life of a frame will stretch.



Hi,

I would not dwell too much on that thought.

Okay boss

 

[Penguin]

I have always argued that the marines and british design requirements for a stovl aircraft jeopardized the whole program
marines need short wings to takeoff and land vertically but the navy and airforce need a larger wingspan for their operations
jsf despite of all the advance gadgets will be a poor performing aircraft like the f-4 phantom but worse
if marines are that keen on have airpower of their own with vertical takeoff capability they should stick to helicopters

How does the issue of cracks in the wing spar have to do with the STOVL version? Looking at 'distrobuted firepower', the F-35B actually makes a lot of sense (10 odd potential light carriers - each capable of 20 odd F-35B - to back the CVNs and take on duties not requiring a full CVN/airwing). It adds value to the navy, while maintaining the USMC need to be able to forward deploy (don't see Air Force or Navy planes operating from FOBs or STUFT or being capable of 'sea basing')

SS Antlantic Conveyor
nationality: british
purpose: transport
type: container ship
propulsion: steam turbine
date built: 1970
tonnage: 14946 grt
dimensions : 212.1 x 28 x 9.1 m
engine: 4 steam turbines, DR Geared, dual shaft, 2 screws
power: 38500 s.h.p.
speed: 23 knots
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?116561

US Military Sealift Command operated containerships that are significantly bigger (40k to 75k grt)
Strategic Sealift (PM3)

Imagine what you could do with some of the world's largest container ships....
List of largest container ships - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[untitled]

Don't know what was wrong with YF-23 Black widow.

It lost out to YF22. You cant replace the F35 with F23 can you?

 

[LeGenD]

Another proof that made in america products are junks.

They are better then what Russians can produce. No disrespect intended though. Just saying.

F-35 has real issues with design and performance and their own experts and pilots are not that happy with it.

No.

F-35 just got lot of (unnecessary) publicity during its development and testing phase. This nonsense should stop.

Tires of F-35 got wet? Breaking news.
I heard F-35 above my home? Breaking news.

What is this?

Pentagon should adopt measures to censor media coverage regarding F-35.

Every weapon system have a history behind it.

Minus Tesla

Ford? Chevrolet?

At present, several American cars are among the best. However, this discussion is not about cars so I will carry it in the relevant thread.

 

[Abingdonboy]

I wouldn't mind if we bought 72 Dassualt Rafale Ms for the next gen Gerald R. Ford or even 150.
that would be what $8 billion for 72 and $18 billion for 150? with an 50% economic offset into the U.S military industrial complex.


all you gotta do is retire the F/A 18 C/Ds


that's enough Rafales to arm 3 U.S Gerald Ford Supercarriers.

This article is specfically talking the USAF looking for altenratives to the F-35A , the USN is already ramping up orders for F-18 Super Hornets (and Growlers) as the F-35C remains troubled.

The USN will never fly foreign fighters from its CVNs and it doesn't need to- the F-18SH is already in service in vast numbers with them.



With the Canadians pulling out and the primary customers (USAF and USN) looking at alternatives the F-35 program is in BIG trouble. This is how death spirals begin- all life cycle and unit costs have been calculated by LM based on being able to sell a certain number of F-35s, as this figure gets trimmed left and right the exsisting customers have to pay more per F-35 which means they can afford even fewer and around and around ths circle goes....


The F-35 program is already troubled but the worst could yet be to come, it is apparent that 100% of the expected prodcution will never be fulfilled but the question is how many do actually get made and at what cost.

 

[monitor]

I think it is India who can save f-35 program by buying a significant number of f-35 for navy and airforce instead of rafale.