Still not a good look for Boeing. They've definitely dropped the ball big time on this and to get caught out twice for the same balls up is beyond stupidity.
USAF News and Discussion
- Thread starter RobWilliams
- Start date
The USAF Assistant Secretary for Acquisition is suggesting a change to how the USAF acquires its next fighter. He is suggesting that the USAF go back to the days of its Century Series fighters when six separate fighters were fielded in a short time span by five different manufacturers. Whilst all of the aircraft weren't roaring successes, they were all operational. His point is that in IT rapid innovation happens, especially in software coding, and although large IT projects can be problematic, they don't require expensive and large infrastructure to design test, build the product etc., whereas aircraft manufacturing does. However if leadership in govt and industry were to back innovators, even when they fail, by being willing to accept the risks the long term payoff would be well worth the risk. He argues that the govt, Pentagon in particular, has to learn to trust people before process. By following this system he argues you could be fielding a new design every four or five years, instead of one every 18 to 20 years, not only saving money and reducing long term risk, but able to field new modern designs quickly and create problems for rivals like China and Russia.
A New Century Series? Will Roper Takes Air Force Back To The Future
A New Century Series? Will Roper Takes Air Force Back To The Future
Where are they going to find five different manufacturers? Competition has slimmed them down to two more or less viable options as copanies failing to hit the jackpot were swallowed by those who succeeded. I'm a bit dubious to say the least
oldsig
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Me too. Sure, software doesn’t require big infrastructure but it does require large development teams of very talented people that have to integrate all sorts of stuff plus new stuff. Then there is new airframe technologies (design and material), then engines, then EW, comm links, etc. etc. Multiple companies in the US developing several platforms at the same...hell the entire worldwide military aerospace industry has only produced 4 5th Gen jets in the last 20 years, two of them in the US. How truly 5th Gen the Su-57 and J-20 are is debatable. Don’t know enough about the J-31, perhaps it could a candidate as well.
A tad large piece of FOD on the flightline. It's capable of biting back too: Now that’s some FOD: Alligator wanders onto MacDill flightline
A B-52H has been reactivated from the Boneyard. This is only the second one to have undergone this procedure: A B-52H Nicknamed "Wise Guy" Becomes The Second To Ever Come Back From The Bone Yard
A defence firm in the US has been price gouging and accusations of war profiteering are flying. From the looks of it, they really are extorting the US taxpayer and any other users of the products mentioned in the article: Defense firm’s ‘excess profits’ land in Congress’s crosshairs
A B-52H has been reactivated from the Boneyard. This is only the second one to have undergone this procedure: A B-52H Nicknamed "Wise Guy" Becomes The Second To Ever Come Back From The Bone Yard
A defence firm in the US has been price gouging and accusations of war profiteering are flying. From the looks of it, they really are extorting the US taxpayer and any other users of the products mentioned in the article: Defense firm’s ‘excess profits’ land in Congress’s crosshairs
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Can't see too many manufacturers in the"real world" allowing such a vulnerability in their supply chain, trust government to screw themselves this way. Why was this company allowed to obtain a sole-source manufacturing right to these items? I did notice the 15% reasonable profit comment, that is just completely unrealistic for a speciality item, as is 3,000+%.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
An interesting article on the debate between buying some F-15Xs or just stick with more F-35s. As the possible termination of Turkey as a customer along with Canada's glacial rate fighter replacement program should at least work in LM's favour from a delivery POV. Must admit I see merit in both alternatives and I guess we will have to let the people that make the big bucks make the decision, clearly lots of variables to consider.
https://www.realcleardefense.com/ar..._understanding_the_f-15x_purchase_114494.html
https://www.realcleardefense.com/ar..._understanding_the_f-15x_purchase_114494.html
The second successful test of the Low Cost attritable Aircraft has taken place with the USAF. Interesting program as it seeks to pair unmanned strike aircraft in a manned unmanned team or loyal wingman role with Gen 5 aircraft to augment their payload capacity.
XQ-58A Valkyrie completes second successful flight
XQ-58A Valkyrie completes second successful flight
There is only one real Valkyrie aircraft and that is the XB-70
Meet the XB-70 Valkyrie, Almost the World's First Nuclear Aircraft
Boagrius
Well-Known Member
It seems the successor to AMRAAM - the AIM-260 - is officially on the horizon:
Air Force Developing AMRAAM Replacement to Counter China
Air Force Developing AMRAAM Replacement to Counter China
Sounds like NG is building the first full sized B-21 flight demonstrator. This puts the TS program on or ahead of Schedule
U.S. Air Force Builds First B-21 Raider 'Test' Stealth Bomber - Warrior Maven
U.S. Air Force Builds First B-21 Raider 'Test' Stealth Bomber - Warrior Maven
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Good news for the USAF. Hopefully NG keeps within budget so the B-21 fleet sees the numbers required. The last outcome needed is another dwarf fleet due to cost overruns as per B-2 and F-22.
In other news...
It's Official & it is coming in 2020.....
It's Official & it is coming in 2020.....
Redlands18
Well-Known Member
Sorry but it just ain’t the same without Tomcats.
Does the USN allow 57yo Pilots to fly Operational missions off their Carriers.
King Wally
Active Member
Apologies for going off topic mods.... BUT....
Surely the best plot for a sequel is old Maverick gets sent on a mission to bomb an Iranian nuke facility in his Super Hornet.... then he gets shot down and ejects deep inside Iran... then goes all mission impossible with his side arm and storms an Iranian air force base on foot before blowing the place up and getting away in a stolen Iranian Tomcat!
Come on! It's begging for it!
Redlands18
Well-Known Member
I would give that 100 likes if I could
With Topper Harley in the back seat.
A bag of mixed news.
One, the US Air Force (USAF) pauses flight ops for C-130s over ‘atypical’ cracking. A total of 123 of 450 C-130H and C-130J aircraft will be temporarily grounded while inspections occur. “This temporary removal of service will not impact ongoing C-130 support to overseas contingency operations.” See: US Air Force pauses flight ops for more than a hundred C-130s over ‘atypical’ cracking.
Two, on 12 Aug 2019, the USAF completed the re-winging of all 173 of the A-10 attack aircraft, popularly known as the Warthog. This is expected to allow the A-10 to keep flying until the late 2030s, Air Force Materiel Command said in a release. See: Air Force Completes A-10 Re-Winging to Keep Iconic Aircraft Flying for Years to Come. This A-10 update is welcome news from a sustainment and risk diversification perspective.
Three, the 413th Flight Test Squadron successfully conducted the first USAF piloted flight of the HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter 11 July 2019. The test took place at Sikorsky’s testing facility. The aircraft, based on the Army’s UH-60M helicopter, is modified to perform missions locating and rescuing downed pilots in hostile territory. The USAF is contracted to purchase 113 HH-60W aircraft to replace its aging fleet of HH-60G helicopters.
The A-10 and HH-60W are important recapitalisation efforts. BZ
One, the US Air Force (USAF) pauses flight ops for C-130s over ‘atypical’ cracking. A total of 123 of 450 C-130H and C-130J aircraft will be temporarily grounded while inspections occur. “This temporary removal of service will not impact ongoing C-130 support to overseas contingency operations.” See: US Air Force pauses flight ops for more than a hundred C-130s over ‘atypical’ cracking.
Two, on 12 Aug 2019, the USAF completed the re-winging of all 173 of the A-10 attack aircraft, popularly known as the Warthog. This is expected to allow the A-10 to keep flying until the late 2030s, Air Force Materiel Command said in a release. See: Air Force Completes A-10 Re-Winging to Keep Iconic Aircraft Flying for Years to Come. This A-10 update is welcome news from a sustainment and risk diversification perspective.
Three, the 413th Flight Test Squadron successfully conducted the first USAF piloted flight of the HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter 11 July 2019. The test took place at Sikorsky’s testing facility. The aircraft, based on the Army’s UH-60M helicopter, is modified to perform missions locating and rescuing downed pilots in hostile territory. The USAF is contracted to purchase 113 HH-60W aircraft to replace its aging fleet of HH-60G helicopters.
The A-10 and HH-60W are important recapitalisation efforts. BZ
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Air Force Brat
Member
I'll buy in to that Bub! it is sure as sugar over the Top-------GUN!