Defense news

[CPD39]

The decision to upgrade the current F-35 engine was the right one and our allied customers preferred one. Foreign sales of the F-35 are exploding even more. I think the F-35 is a major reason Russia has turned belly up to China. https://www.19fortyfive.com/2023/04/...are-exploding/

[CPD39]

Only 5 more years planned for the operation of the Ohio class SSGN's. The slack has to be picked up by the Virginia class SSN's, which more and more are looking like SSGN's. The Virginia program has been very successful with future boats having even quieter drives and larger payloads. There might even by a cruise missile carrying SSGN based on the Columbia design in the future. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...m-navy-by-2028

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/24804/navy-plans-for-large-payload-subs-based-on-new-columbia-class-to-take-on-ssgn-role-and-more

[Harry Callahan]

The decision to upgrade the current F-35 engine was the right one and our allied customers preferred one. Foreign sales of the F-35 are exploding even more. I think the F-35 is a major reason Russia has turned belly up to China. https://www.19fortyfive.com/2023/04/...are-exploding/

Interesting that Switzerland is buying it.

[899xxxandretired]

Just like the F-14, first engines seem to not make the grade.

[CPD39]

Interesting that Switzerland is buying it.

Well the F35 and SAAB Gripen JAS 39 have comparable maneuver and speed ratings while the F35 has a much smaller RCS so its going to get the first shot off. Both have very good avionics with the edge going "slightly" to the F35. While the Gripen can "super cruise" the F35 can do the next best thing, it can accelerate and stay at mach for quite a bit until it starts gulping fuel. The F35 is networked with every other F35 on the planet, thats a very big thing, the fucking things talk to each other in real time and they have an unparalleled ability to access info/views from the air and ground space around them.

Super cruise is a little over hyped. If you get within an enemys kill range super cruise probably isn't going to help you. The real trick is in seeing them first because modern AMRAMM BVR missilery is very lethal.

The F35's new blk-4 drop turns it almost into almost an entirely a new fighter with upgrades to its engine, avionics, and most of all software. Fighter jets like the Gripen, the Euro fighter, the Frenchie Rafael, are all very fine fighters but are gen 4.5 and more expensive then the Yank F35. Thats another thing, we are making a shitload of the things which is keeping the price down. Of course the F35 has a carrier version and a VSTOL version tho the only foreign customers are for the VSTOL F35B and of course the F35A.

The Swiss are many things but one thing they aren't is stupid. The fact that so many nations are going to be flying the F35 well into the 2070's means theres going to be a constant stream of lethal upgrades for it coming out of the most accomplished aerospace Industry's on the planet. Those being American. The fighter has been designed to easily be upgraded with an open architecture design and while the edge of stealth may be whittled away somewhat in the future the fact remains nobody can change the Laws of physics and the behavior of electro-magnetic energy.

Thermal management will be the real thing to stay on top of as infrared sensors have gotten very good.

Ergo; Stealth is here to stay. America already has a paradigm changing 6'th Gen stealth fighter flying in prototype and with the power of computers and digital design software the time it takes to design, test, and start building complex aircraft has been shortened almost to an unbelievable level. The F35 customers all know this and everyone wants to get in on the train. The Jap/Euro consortium's are also developing a 6'th Gen fighter, as is the USN, and all will to some extent rely on data, hardware, and assistance, from USAF's program. Which is already well along

Our children will probably see the day where pilots become redundant and a liability. Our grandkids for sure. A. I. is the future of advanced weapons tech. <S>

[CPD39]

Were going to have a Bomber problem as we are retiring 17 B1b's this year and the B-52 fleet, aged already, needs an extensive refit of avionics and engines. The good news is this is very doable because the air frame itself is very sturdy and the BigUglyFucker still has a lot of life left in about 78 of them that will be refit. I know a couple of years ago the B1b readiness rate was 10 bombers overall capable of flying missions, which sucks. I doubt its much better today.

USAF is tasked to have 157 Bombers in operation. Of about 76 B-52's around 30 are available for missions and thats an improvement but it will be affected by the refit. USAF is now pushing for an acceleration of the refit to about 30 Buffs a year but thats generous because this is an extensive refit.

The B1b fleet is in bad shape as it has carried the load thru much of the war on terror and its not as structurally sound an airframe as the B-52. I dont believe the number of 20 USAF say's is available. Even if it was true it still a light number for a Bomber that wouldn't be able to handle the stress's of a major war. The Bone has the worst mission capable rates in USAF.

The B2 fleet is in better shape, supposedly, but they are few in number and demand a high maintenance rotation cycle.

The B-21 hasn't even flown yet let alone started mass production. The 5 in various states of build are basically hand made test models. The good news is the program is going relatively smoothly, if slowly, but we wont have usable numbers assigned to a squadron until 2027 and probably later. Which means we will have a critical Bomber gap for the next 7 years.

[Pensiontheif]

Only 5 more years planned for the operation of the Ohio class SSGN's. The slack has to be picked up by the Virginia class SSN's, which more and more are looking like SSGN's. The Virginia program has been very successful with future boats having even quieter drives and larger payloads. There might even by a cruise missile carrying SSGN based on the Columbia design in the future. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...m-navy-by-2028
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-role-and-more

It will be some time before Columbia class boats are made into SSGNs. The nuclear ballistic replacement comes first and it will be more than a decade to replace its Ohios.

[Pensiontheif]

Were going to have a Bomber problem as we are retiring 17 B1b's this year and the B-52 fleet, aged already, needs an extensive refit of avionics and engines. The good news is this is very doable because the air frame itself is very sturdy and the BigUglyFucker still has a lot of life left in about 78 of them that will be refit. I know a couple of years ago the B1b readiness rate was 10 bombers overall capable of flying missions, which sucks. I doubt its much better today.

USAF is tasked to have 157 Bombers in operation. Of about 76 B-52's around 30 are available for missions and thats an improvement but it will be affected by the refit. USAF is now pushing for an acceleration of the refit to about 30 Buffs a year but thats generous because this is an extensive refit.

The B1b fleet is in bad shape as it has carried the load thru much of the war on terror and its not as structurally sound an airframe as the B-52. I dont believe the number of 20 USAF say's is available. Even if it was true it still a light number for a Bomber that wouldn't be able to handle the stress's of a major war. The Bone has the worst mission capable rates in USAF.

The B2 fleet is in better shape, supposedly, but they are few in number and demand a high maintenance rotation cycle.

The B-21 hasn't even flown yet let alone started mass production. The 5 in various states of build are basically hand made test models. The good news is the program is going relatively smoothly, if slowly, but we wont have usable numbers assigned to a squadron until 2027 and probably later. Which means we will have a critical Bomber gap for the next 7 years.

It’s not really a bomber gap. It’s just that the current bomber fleet will have a lot more wear and tear if called upon than planned if needed. It would significantly decrease the lifespan of the airframe if called upon but it’s still available during the time period that this “gap” is on if truly needed.

[Pensiontheif]

What is not mentioned in the article are the true differences in the 3 F-35 airframe performances. From what I read, the F35B (the VTOL marine corps version ) goes not have the maneuverability of the F35A, nor the fuel capacity, nor the F35A’s internal gun. That’s okay. They have different missions. There is less known about the F35C other than the larger wing span and greater fuel capacity and it still doesn’t have the maneuverability of the F35A but does have better slow speed maneuverability required for carrier landings.
What isn’t being highlighted much is that the export versions do not necessarily have all the bells and whistles of the US versions.

[CPD39]

Well the F35b has the 25mm gun but I think its mounted differently and it does have ordinance limitations. It cant carry 2,000lb class bombs internally. While it does have some maneuverability limitations compared to the other versions its doubtful it matters. the sensor power and fidelity of the VSTOL aircraft more then makes up for these short comings. As well the thing can take off and land from about anything and anywhere.

The concept behind it was proven during the Falklands War where far fewer Harrier jump jets performed well against the Argie Air Force and was a force multiplier in supporting ground forces.

[Pensiontheif]

Well the F35b has the 25mm gun but I think its mounted differently and it does have ordinance limitations. It cant carry 2,000lb class bombs internally. While it does have some maneuverability limitations compared to the other versions its doubtful it matters. the sensor power and fidelity of the VSTOL aircraft more then makes up for these short comings. As well the thing can take off and land from about anything and anywhere.

The concept behind it was proven during the Falklands War where far fewer Harrier jump jets performed well against the Argie Air Force and was a force multiplier in supporting ground forces.

The harriers in the Falklands war used thrust vectoring to outmaneuver the adversary. The VTOL on the F35B works differently than the harrier. It’s uses a lift fan where a door/hatch pops open and the aerodynamics change to something than hinder such stuff at high speeds. This not to say that it can not dogfight with todays off bore missiles but it’s not a dogfighter when compared to something like an F16 or even the F35A.
And the gun on the F35B is a gun pod like they had on the F4 Phantom.

[CPD39]

A 49% spike in American arms exports in 2022.https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon...oared-in-2022/

Russian arms exports shrunk by 22%. The Middle East is still a veritable arms bazaar.

The biggest increases came from Saudi Arabia (61%), Egypt (136%) and Qatar (361%)

Almost half (47%) of US arms exports went to the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia alone accounting for 24% of total US arms exports.
The US is now supplying arms to 96 states while increasing its global share of arms sales during the five year period.
France increased its exports of major arms by 44%, while Germany expanded its exports by 21%.
Israel and South Korea both significantly increased their exports, although both remain relatively small players in arms exports.

America is exporting about 37% of the world market share of weaponry. It seems everyone wants our shit and the % is only going to grow now that were past COVID and high ticket items like F-35, HIMARS, Tanks, and missilery increases.

[HAPD]

Only 5 more years planned for the operation of the Ohio class SSGN's. The slack has to be picked up by the Virginia class SSN's, which more and more are looking like SSGN's. The Virginia program has been very successful with future boats having even quieter drives and larger payloads. There might even by a cruise missile carrying SSGN based on the Columbia design in the future. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...m-navy-by-2028
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-role-and-more

NOT ENOUGH SUBS FOR ALL THE DEMANDS, no matter how much weaponry they carry. It will take way to long to build these and newer designs. Heck we had a LA class sub, later design sitting pier side for three plus years awaiting a spot in the yards for an update. Not enough yards. Not enough yard birds with integrity and honor as well as not being spies. Heck Germany is now sending warships to the Pacific, and maybe a sub to patrol, because we do not have the ships and subs to do the work.

[CPD39]

Maybe but we have to get the Columbia's up and running first. Then we got the Aussie's RAN needing SSN's?? I dont know what these ship yards are going to do. Theres only so much capacity.

I knew at the time there was no peace dividend. Theres never a peace dividend. The Russian SSN force is resurgent and far better because all Russia has to worry about is SSN's for their navy. And then theres the Chinese.

[CPD39]

F-35 block upgrades discussed.

Now Canada has ordered 88 F35A's.