The F-35 program needs public relations. Badly.
What to do? Perform some photo shoots for the A and B model showing dummy missiles, real racks and pylons.
Here is the latest including the missionized gun pod shape.
One could be forgiven for thinking these are warplanes and the program is making significant progress. They would be mistaken.
It is interesting to note that any LRIP aircraft done before batch 6 are junk. They do not have the hardware to drive the final Block 3 software.
Then there are those problems.
Which might not see a fix until LRIP-8.
And at what price and actual worth?
3 comments:
Scrap the A & C before we waste another dime. If the Marines still want the B, go for it. The R&D is already sunk, we can't get that money back, but that does not mean we need to spend a cent more for hundreds of a useless plane. Sure, averaging the R&D over a small USMC buy will look outrageous but most of that money is already spent.
If the future strategy is actually a focus on the pacific, this is more than the wrong plane, it's utterly worthless. Start over on the airframe, keep the avionics. Take another 3 or 4 years, design a jet that can meet the AF/USN requirements but without STOVL dragging everything else down. Reduce the RCS, streamline it, give it room to grow, control the cost (yeah whatever), and put another 50% (or more) fuel capacity in it! The current compromised aircraft is wrong for the USAF and USN.
Our military can bear to limp along for an extra 5 or 8 years if it results in a useful tool.
When you desperately need a spoon, it does not matter how much money and time you spent developing a fork.
Scoot7:
"When you desperately need a spoon, it does not matter how much money and time you spent developing a fork."
You, my friend, have in a single sentence captured the sentiments I have been trying to express to the F-35 "Fan Club" for years now! VERY well done :-)
What amazes me most is that the -22 was killed for far LESS offenses than this pig! On top of that, the price of the Raptor was falling and we had a demonstrated killer coming off the line.
I say let's get that Silent Eagle rolling, I hear it can be ready in 3 years. Dual engines, good enough, manageable stealth, big AESA, etc... What's not to love, especially if it's needed in the Pac Rim? - You wouldn't get me in the F-35 cockpitt in an area dominated by late-model SUs, Pak Fas, EFs, and the like.
FAT underwing pylons + a FAT cannon pod strapped to the FATTY of all modern fighters.
Quick - call Jenny Craig, its time for another trip to the SWAT fat farm.
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