Time to end funding on the "rathole" F-35?

[BlackSheep214]

Apparently one Congressman thinks so.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/articl ... li=BBnb7Kz

Never was a big fan of the F-35 (too ugly and not bad@$$ enough for my taste) but didn't realize it had numerous issues.

[LyleW]

As has been said..."A camel is a horse designed by a committee"....that is how I feel about the F-35. I just don't like it. I would tend to agree that having the right tool for the job is important. It can't replace everything. But I'm old.

[Stikpusher]

There were also congressmen and their lackeys in the media who felt the same about the M1 Abrams, M2 Bradley, F-111, B-1, and many other such cutting edge systems that came along. All were eventually proven wrong when it came time for those items to go to war. Pure and simple, our aircraft need replacements. All those being replaced by the F-35 are designs that first flew 40-50 years ago. They are wearing out and need a more advanced replacement (along with adequate flight hours and realistic training) to insure superiority in combat. Yes, several separate designs would have been a better approach, but at this point, it’s too late to turn back. The 35 is here, in service and in growing numbers. The real issue is how to get the most out of the aircraft that we can.

[Modelcrazy]

Agree Stick.
The A-10 was supposed to be gone until it was proven in Iraq. Yes it has it's issues, so did every plane that came out.
From what I've heard from pilots who fly them say they are a nice platform. Of course they might also only ask the ones who like it.
I fear we won't be producing anything new for a while now so we better make the best of what we have.

[Floki]

They was hoping the F35 would replace the A10 for close air support at one time until the A10 proved itself to be unreplaceable, at least at this time. I can understand wanting one platform able to be setup for any mission. But that old saying jack of all trades master of none, that's the F35. Honestly I think they should of expanded the F22 line. I can't complain too much the F35 is one reason why my factory didn't close one day for the flu like a lot of others did

[jeaton01]

They will find a way to make it work, just as they have the Osprey which developmentally is a similar program. But all the talk in the Air Force now is about rapid development of much smaller programs. The biggest risk I can see with the F-35 the cost of maintenance. The F-14 was a fine airplane but the Navy couldn't afford to keep them serviceable and also have sufficient numbers of other aircraft.

Most likely the complaining congressman doesn't have enough F-35 contracts in his district. That as much as anything is what keeps many military projects going, they get support from Congress because they provide jobs for their constituency. Lockheed and Boeing are real effective at working that angle, I think to the detriment of their better employees and to the real issue of producing what the military really needs.

[scorpiomikey]

As has been said..."A camel is a horse designed by a committee"....that is how I feel about the F-35. I just don't like it. I would tend to agree that having the right tool for the job is important. It can't replace everything. But I'm old.

Otherwise known as a white elephant.
I figured this would happened. About...several?...years ago? lol bad memory. I remember seeing an article about the F-35 being too big to fail. At that point i figured it was going to be a failure that was pressed on the military to use as much as possible.

[Stikpusher]

Yeah I looked up that congressman and he is from the mid to deep left side of the aisle, not exactly the folks who support any DoD programs, even if it does benefit his district. The program could be 100% on target and I’ll bet that he would still want it cut.
Now when we get to the A-10... the Air Force has been wanting to get rid of it for decades now. It was not: fast enough, sexy enough, etc. for their liking. Their idea of ideal CAS is 10,000’ AGL and 500+ knots. They tried a 30mm gun podded F-16 in Desert Storm, and after one day or so of actual combat missions dropped that idea. Nothing can truly replace an A-10 except another aircraft created within the same design parameters of armament, loiter time, payload, and battle damage survivability.
Anyways, after seeing the F-35 fly by overhead (along with F-16s) every Monday thru Friday of every week for the past year, the aircraft has sure grown on me. Now mind you I haven’t seen them in action putting ordnance on target like I have with A-10’s and other fast movers of my youth, but I sure have grown to like them.

[Modelcrazy]

It might help perception if the Thunderbirds transitioned to them, but they may be far too expensive to just show off. Whereas the F-16, admittedly a 50 year old plane, is relatively inexpensive to operate.
Heck, this government will probably trash our demonstration teams anyway.

[Medicman71]

Look, the aircraft we have are about as old if not older than I am. The "teen series" of jets are well past their flight hours and are being asked to do more and more. Without getting to political, this administration does not like military projects and will ax them if they can. That's why we have just 180 or less of the F-22 (that was supposed to replace the F-15) and they can't reopen the line ever. There's other platforms that are in very desperate need of replacement like the JSTARS, E-3 AWACS, T-38 (which NOW has a replacement coming). The B-52 is just about older than all of us here but will go on for another 20 years if they have their way.

I don't know if the F-35 can do everything it's supposed to (probably not). But that's what they said about the F-16 and look how much it does. There's always teething problems with new systems. As was stated before, look at the B-1, MV-22, Ford Class Carriers.