Entire U.S. Stealth Fighter Fleet Grounded
 

In past few decades, the U.S. Air Force has spent untold billions researching and developing a family of stealth fighter jets that are supposed to be generations ahead of any dogfighters in the sky.
But after building more than 170 F-22 Raptors and a handful of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, not a single one is available for service. The Air Force currently has zero flyable stealth fighters. None.
The vaunted F-22 has been grounded with a possible faulty oxygen system since May. Production of the last few Raptors is even on hold, because the jets can’t fly from the factory.

Last week, test flights for the newer F-35 were suspended, too, because of a valve problem in the plane’s integrated power package. It’s the third time this year that JSFs have been grounded. Tests may resume as early as next week. Then again, they may not.
Yesterday, the U.S. military committed to spending another $535 million to buy 38 more Joint Strike Fighters — a family of stealth jets that are supposed to become the multipurpose, affordable workhorses of tomorrow’s fleet. Ninety percent of America’s combat aviation power is eventually supposed to come from the jets’ three variants.


But the jets have been anything but cheap. The current cost for the JSF program is $382 billion and rising for more than 2,400 aircraft. No wonder just about every major deficit reduction plan scales back the JSF effort in some way.
And, at the moment, they’re not producing any combat power, either.
Back in 2002, the plan was to have more than 90 JSFs flying by next year. As things currently stand, the Air Force and Navy might not get their variants until 2016. The Marines — who knows?
For now, every available penny in the JSF program is tied up in getting the jets back into the air and their programs on track.
“The so-called ‘fifth-generation’ fighters have certainly revolutionized U.S. air power,” Ares’ Bill Sweetman noted, “if not quite in the way anyone had in mind.”


SOURCE

Gee Frei, don't you ever post good news? :)

Well, there is the "Smell Like Patton" post. :D

Not looking good for our armed forces, as we plan to buy some F35 JSF's for our new carriers as replacement for the harriers:damn:

F-35 JSF won't be fielded even until the next Korean war erupted. North Korea seems to be interested in provoking an armed conflict with her Southern neighbor. Once of these days it could get what it didn't wish for: retaliation.

Back to the F-16s for most of the allies I guess.

At least there is one bright side. As F-35 is now propably getting a bit more behind schedule there is no need to hurry with Queen Elisabeth -class carriers. With delaying new carriers your government can save money as its not necessary to keep Harriers in flying condition as stop gap measure. This because at my understanding before Harriers were anyway needed while waiting soon to come F-35. Extra saving point is that there will be no running cost from carrier!

Savings may propably be limited to politicians dreams though... and impact to military capabilities? We don't talk about this, okay? :doh:

Really fantastic news. :damn:

Relax, you've still got a whole shedload of F-16s, F-15s, F-18s, A-10s, and countless other types of aircraft whose designations I cannot recall and will probably get kicked up the arse for forgetting, to hand which are enough for what you need at the moment.

The RAF on the other hand... :damn:

I see TLAM's already seen it :hmmm:

Oh, and the JSF isn't released to service yet but still in testing, this is part of the testing process - rather than leave it for operational units to fault-find (although they will, and procedures will change accordingly). Another estimated five years before it's ready.

You just think all the stealth planes are grounded. They may look like they are on the ground, but they are actually flying.

It is a new type of stealth. :yep:


Shhhhh

What about a navalised typhoon...
http://www.eurofighter.com/fileadmin...on_cutaway.pdf

EDIT: replacement for the UK carriers I should clarify.