re: #583 DEZes

The F-14’s are retired and the 22’s in limbo, so I have to agree with you.

Most of the F-15s are gone, too, due to airframe fatigue. Right now, ADCONUS has devolved upon F-16C Block 52s and higher plus F-15 Echoes; both types have near-complete all-weather capability due to their strike avionics. And as for “stealth”, the Viper has always been a good bit “sneakier” in that department than generally advertised. (Not betraying any info here, Air International, etc., have been talking about this for years.)

Of course, being double-tasked like that adds time on their airframes, and reduces their availability for in-theater support and counter-air missions (where needed), too.

The F-22/F-35 “hi/lo” mix is the best all-around answer to this problem, and by the nature of the problem there will not be as many F-22s as there are F-35s. But asking one aircraft, the F-35, to “do it all” is probably not a viable answer. The F-35 was developed as a primary close-support fighter, and a secondary limited all-weather dogfighter, emphasis on within visual range (WVR) engagement. The F-22 was developed as a beyond visual range (BVR) platform, to take out enemy air before it got close enough to launch its own weapons. That’s about fifty miles in the modern air combat environment- we aren’t the only ones with long-range air-to-air missiles, and a lot of the other people who have such goodies aren’t working under the sort of ROE our pilots do. (They don’t necessarily wait for a positive ID and a first free shot before they “deedle-deedle-deedle-BANG” your a$$.)

Trying to do this job with the F-35 is (theoretically) possible- but the casualties on our side will probably be higher.

(Note to The One- Infra-Red homing missiles are relatively short-ranged, but they are also cheap, effective, and aren’t impressed by low RCS. If you’re warm, you’re on their menu.)

This is, IMHO, a case of being penny-wise and pound-foolish. But we won’t really know until we have to go toe-to-toe with an enemy with a real air force. The One is slipping us back to the “bush hat and M-16” mentality that afflicted us in the Sixties and seventies. It cost us badly then; it probably won’t be any cheaper this time around.

cheers

eon