LONG DRAWN OUT FART SOUND
As someone who used to direct live fighter aircraft in support of our boots on the ground, I can tell you that the F-35 is even less useful than a pair of F-16 lawn darts. The thing is a turd with way too many limitations on employment. Give me more gas and more munitions or GTFO.
What we wanted was the next generation A-10 that was promised. Instead the corrupt acquisitions bureaucracy shat out the F-35 and tried to hold it up as spectacular.
I have some brilliant news for you. Part of Trump's rebuilding of the military was putting F22 and F35 technology into older, proven platforms like the F15, F16, and F/A18, making them far more deadly/robust in the air while being familiar and accessible to a larger and more experienced audience of pilots.
In short, I completely agree. I think that these older and proven platforms have earned their stripes and can serve their functions cost effectively by means of new technology being integrated in. An A-10 costs, what, $250k to manufacture? An F35C costs $35m. Do you really need an F35 to blow up a building made of mud and rocks? Or can you spend a few bucks to upgrade that old Warthog with a few touchscreens and stealth paint so it can fly a few more years?
LONG DRAWN OUT FART SOUND As someone who used to direct live fighter aircraft in support of our boots on the ground, I can tell you that the F-35 is even less useful than a pair of F-16 lawn darts. The thing is a turd with way too many limitations on employment. Give me more gas and more munitions or GTFO.
What we wanted was the next generation A-10 that was promised. Instead the corrupt acquisitions bureaucracy shat out the F-35 and tried to hold it up as spectacular.
I have some brilliant news for you. Part of Trump's rebuilding of the military was putting F22 and F35 technology into older, proven platforms like the F15, F16, and F/A18, making them far more deadly/robust in the air while being familiar and accessible to a larger and more experienced audience of pilots.
F15ex https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/boeings-new-f-15ex-fighter-one-dangerous-jet-171628
F/A18 Super Hornet https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/09/block-iii-f-a-18-super-hornet-why-the-u-s-navy-loves-this-new-fighter/
F21 (F16) https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=2100
In short, I completely agree. I think that these older and proven platforms have earned their stripes and can serve their functions cost effectively by means of new technology being integrated in. An A-10 costs, what, $250k to manufacture? An F35C costs $35m. Do you really need an F35 to blow up a building made of mud and rocks? Or can you spend a few bucks to upgrade that old Warthog with a few touchscreens and stealth paint so it can fly a few more years?
TL;DR, plz giv mor BRRRRRRT