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Another "praise the Raptor" article
- Thread starter Lonestar155
- Start date
Lobster
Well-Known Member
LOL. Here's the artist's conception that was used with briefs.
Kind of looks better as a two seater...
It is a bit of a compromise, not as stealthy as an F-22 or a B-2 but a lot more rugged and more suited for carrier and/or austere op locations. Unlike some current aircraft, the F-35 is not going to need it's own customized shleter when it deploys abord USS Boat or Kurblakistan AB.
Stealth is not a pancea, only one of many tools. If you rely too much on one tool you could find yourself swinging in a chute above the rolling Serb coutryside wondering "WTF just happened?!" Hence some of the compromises with the F-35.
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UpstateSouthpaw
On to Whiting North
I know one of the big complaints about the F-22 is that it is fairly expensive... well extremely expensive. However I've heard the F-35 is catching up price tag wise. I doubt in the end it will be as expensive as the F-22. With that said, here's a little basic math...
F-35 cost: about 80million
F-22 cost: about 138million
...so we could get 2/3 of an F-22 for 1 F-35, I don't know how much more capable the F-22 is than the F-35 but it seems like the JSF was a pretty good idea. (based on price) I guess it comes down to whether or not 3 F-35s are better than 2 F-22s. So... are 3 F-35s better than 2 F-22s? Or does a transformer F-14 trump all?
If 3 F-35s are better than 2 F-22s you've got a better deal (not to mention you've got 3 planes in one) but if 2 F-22s are better than 3 F-35s maybe it would have been better to spend the money on fewer but better aircraft. Just a thought...
F-35 cost: about 80million
F-22 cost: about 138million
...so we could get 2/3 of an F-22 for 1 F-35, I don't know how much more capable the F-22 is than the F-35 but it seems like the JSF was a pretty good idea. (based on price) I guess it comes down to whether or not 3 F-35s are better than 2 F-22s. So... are 3 F-35s better than 2 F-22s? Or does a transformer F-14 trump all?
If 3 F-35s are better than 2 F-22s you've got a better deal (not to mention you've got 3 planes in one) but if 2 F-22s are better than 3 F-35s maybe it would have been better to spend the money on fewer but better aircraft. Just a thought...
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Transformer F-14 trumps all.
bucks87
SNA
Maybe for the airforce but the navy cant buy the F-22 for a carrier role. I have no idea what type/quantity of capabilites are required but you would need to factor in that the 3 F-35's would have higher operating costs due to the extra pilots/maintenance crew required.
You scratch the PAINT on a Raptor and it's a Class A. How the happy hell do they expect these things to take cat shots and traps? The salt air? Face it mate, the Raptor belongs in an airshow, not on the boat.
if you've ever fought one you'll know it belongs in more places than just an airshow...
S/F
Think of it another way, one-third less aircraft to put on CVN's. That would be a significant reduction in force.
Isn't that kind a plus?
I mean you only have so much deck space, and so many carriers.
I would figure you would want as shit hot, whiz bang a plane as possible for carrier aircraft.
We already have less strike/fighter aircraft on carriers than we did just 20 years ago and almost 1/5 less carriers. We need the numbers, not just a few silver bullets.
Maybe the Carrier will eventually go the way of the dodos and the BBs....
IMHO as long as we keep the CVN as the main battery of the Fleet, and accepting it's vulnerabilities, than we almost NEED to have specialized A/C optimized for it's defense. That being said, I really can't see a near term competitior, (including the PRC) ever mounting a robust outer air stand off threat that the USSR did with their TU's and AS series ASCMs for a long time. Sizzler is a bastard....but it would take more than a dedicated next gen naval fighter to counter it.
IMHO as long as we keep the CVN as the main battery of the Fleet, and accepting it's vulnerabilities, than we almost NEED to have specialized A/C optimized for it's defense. That being said, I really can't see a near term competitior, (including the PRC) ever mounting a robust outer air stand off threat that the USSR did with their TU's and AS series ASCMs for a long time. Sizzler is a bastard....but it would take more than a dedicated next gen naval fighter to counter it.