Just Pathetic…
The Register notes: Head of US military kit-testing slams F-35, says it’s scarcely fit to fly – “Gun: fail. Flight: fail. Software: fail. Schedule: fail. Budget: fail. Plus 270 more fails.”
Read the whole thing and download the PDF of the critique. For about $100 million a copy you could own a totally worthless ground vehicle, because it would be really suicidal to take it into combat. [Less suicidal than before because the ejection seat no longer breaks the pilot’s neck when used … they claim.]
6 comments
LockMart makes the F-16 also, so they win either way. If the F-35 fails, they get to sell more F-16’s….
Yep. I even read somewhere they are hoping to use it in close combat situations that was the province of the A10,AKA the Warthog. I understand the “The Machete is still in the concept stages, but is set to be released in to variants – the propeller-driven SM-27 and the jet-propelled SM-28.”
The reason I bring up the Machete is that it, like the A10, is a fast flying combat strong, flying abattoir. (Although somebody should pump in a bunch 50 caliber bullets to test the foamed metal armor) The F-35 is built on a pyramid of systems which, if any one of them fails, means your flying a rock.
Here, this: Push for inquiry into Australia’s $24 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter purchase
You’d think the F-35 was designed by the LNP based on their successes so far! Wins: 0, Fails: MANY!
When you’re trying to sell spending $billions on a lemon, you trot out a failed PM for a photo-op! Makes sense… to very few!
The most maneuverable aircraft are the least stable and stealth aircraft lose stability to changes made to reduce radar signatures. They are fly-by-wire and almost impossible to keep in the air if the computer goes down for any reason. This is a huge software project in addition to the standard problems of building a new aircraft.
The A-10 was designed for close air support and to take punishment. It has backups of backups. If both hydraulic systems go out there is a mechanical system. It can fly with one of the engines; one of the two tails, and a wing and a half while protecting the pilot in a titanium ‘bath tub’ . The F-35 is afraid of lightning which is absurd in an aircraft called ‘Lightning II”. The WWII P-38 Lightning would be a better ground support aircraft than its namesake.
The P-38 was a good aircraft for the day & the Mustang. 😀 My friend Milt used to talk about them a lot. He loved flying them. And racing around on the ground in his vintage Mustang! LOL
The F-16 are a good capable fighter. Tougher than they look and maintenance is designed to be relatively easy. Even an engine can be replaced in 20 minutes.
Milt told me about one of his first missions in the F-111 @ the end of the Vietnam conflict. They were supposed to land & refuel but the base was bugging out, so they had to redirect to one further away and so had to do everything he could to extend the flight time. They didn’t quite make it before fuel was exhausted. He said he never believed he could turn something like an F-111 into a glider, but he did! One good thing about variable wing geometry & a very skilled pilot, & a backup generator! 😉 😀
Want another laugh? At yourself (USA) this time! 😛 😆
Trump and North Korea
I. Can’t. Stop. Laughing! 😆
A big part of the problem is the USA’s current capability to defend anyone! Even the USA. It’s not a given, no matter how hard patriots wave the flags!
Bush/Chaney/Rumsfeld/Rice all but destroyed the US military. it hasn’t recovered. Most of the new weapons systems kinda work, sometimes! Maybe. The old ICBM’s r so dilapidated SAC is afraid to test fire any! I doubt many would even launch & any that do may pre-detonate (according to reports)! The crews are drunk/drugged/AWOL… & the base commanders are just as bad!
The US Navy is about the only branch that is still deadly capable! And they can’t be everywhere or get anywhere fast, or do it all!
There is no more SAC which is why there are so many problems with the nuclear forces. There is no career ladder for the missile people. The ICBMs really are the ‘end of the world’ weapons, the attack weapons are the cruise missiles on B-52s to fill the gaps for the Tridents.
The US military’s biggest short fall is spare parts. We have thousands of tanks sitting in depots waiting for parts. we have hundreds of aircraft grounded waiting for parts. We are going to have to buy more F-16s and FA-18s to fill the gap left by F-35 delays.
The situation is Soviet-level stupid. The Soviets had thousands of tractors rusting in repairs stations waiting for spark plugs.