The Next Navy?

[flatsixes]

The linked article, "Twilight of the $UPERfluous Carrier" appears in the May 2011 issue of the Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine.

I think the authors provide a provocative and insightful analysis of the direction the US Navy should be taking as era of the super carrier draws to a close.

If I'm lucky, some of you will disagree, and then we can have a big fight about it.

And yes, Mr. Moderator, its got stuff about submarines in it, too.

Enjoy.

[Fish In The Water]

Originally Posted by flatsixes

If I'm lucky, some of you will disagree, and then we can have a big fight about it.

Positive thinking that.

[August]

Originally Posted by flatsixes

If I'm lucky, some of you will disagree, and then we can have a big fight about it.

You're not going to get much of an argument in a forum where surface ships are considered targets.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by MaddogK

Again we dream of the day when F-35's get off the drawingboards, get into production, and prove they work as designed, at a reasonable price.

The F-35's price might be more reasonable than has been reported around the web.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by MaddogK

What good is an airplane that get grounded after the first 10 hours of flight because maintenance can't be done because it isn't paid for ?

IIRC the RAF's C17s and Apaches all started off very similar! C17s didn't allow for maintenance and the Apaches didn't come with any avionics.

Our new (future) Voyager aircraft will probably have strict luggage restrictions for passengers, and will only be allowed to pass 10,000lbs of fuel to other aircraft per day, up to a maximum of 100,000 per calendar month or the penalty clause kicks in. I hate to think what the non-refundable deposit is for leasing this!

[Matador.es]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

The F-35's price might be more reasonable than has been reported around the web.

I have always been in favor of the JSF. Though I recently started to realize it will be outdated before it will c service (here in holland). It will be taken over by the unmanned aircrafts.

I really like one remark of this writer. The carrier will not be domed. But like at the end of the battleship will perform a support role. Like they did in Vietnam, as artillery. I do think hey has a good point there!

Everything can be divided in platforms and tools. If the carrier is the platform, the plane is the tool. When your talking about the plane (platform) the weapons will be the tools. So if the plane is removed and the UMAV will be used instead the tool of the platform (carrier) is gone. Euhm, yea, had to read it twice myself....

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by MaddogK

'might be' ?

Are you saying it's fair to strip all r&d costs, testing, updates, and other ownership costs from the price and claim the production only costs are all that matters ?

When you do that for a 4th gen aircraft and not or the F-35 and compare the two (which many have done) then yes it is.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by MaddogK

Well, the V-22 osprey has a fly-away cost thats almost identical to what you're article states for the F-35, and you know what that program has cost, right ?

I wonder what having a F-36 for the USAF, an F/A-37 for the Navy and a AV-38 for the USMC would cost in R & D and production? A heck of a lot more than just the F-35 A/B/C

Just for grins- according to the USAF 2009 budget, the F-22 fly away cost is 137.4 million (2008 cost) BUT weapons and avionics cost an additional 177.58 million MORE per copy. - NO spares, no training, no anything additional.

BTW- the AF doc shows a fly-away cost for the F-35 @ 215 MIL each + 235 Million EACH for avionics and weapons.

Really? A yet to be produced Multi-Role figher costs more than a Single Role air superiority fighter that has finished production? Amazing you pay more for a plane that flys farther and does more?

[claybirdd]

At least we picked the F-35 instead of the X-32.

[flatsixes]

Originally Posted by MaddogK

F-22 vs F35 = NO contest
http://www.afa.org/ProfessionalDevel...Comparison.pdf

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/th...o-contest.html

Ouch! Having read that comparison of the F-22 v. F-35, it really does seem to be a no-brainer: The F-22 is clearly the superior aircraft. But there's no way that you're gonna get a fully loaded pig like that off the deck of an aircraft carrier. For my money, leave the F-22 to the USAF and give me two F-35's manned by Naval Aviators.