Super Hornet for the Air Force?

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=43334&dcn=todaysnews

Air Force urged to consider Navy F-18s

As the Air National Guard grapples with an impending fighter jet shortfall that will threaten its ability to protect U.S. airspace, its supporters in Congress and the Pentagon want the Air Force to consider all possible solutions — even buying Navy F-18s to fill the gap.

. . .

They argue that 80 percent of the Air Guard’s F-16s, which fly the majority of Air Sovereignty Alert missions, will retire years before their replacements are ready, depleting units of the aircraft they need to secure domestic airspace.

. . .

According to a Government Accountability Office report released this year, the Air Force will not have viable aircraft after fiscal 2015 at some of its 18 ASA sites in the United States — 16 of which are run by the Guard. By 2032, two sites will still not have viable aircraft for the mission.

. . .

Across the Capitol, the House has passed a fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill that includes an amendment by Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., requiring Defense Secretary Robert Gates to review buying advanced F-15s, F-16s and F-18s for the Air Guard.

. . .

Both the F-15s and F-16s are still in production for international customers. But there is concern that advanced versions of the F-15, a Boeing Co.-built plane with a price tag that could top $70 million, would be cost-prohibitive. As for Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-16, the manufacturer is expected to focus its U.S. efforts on its F-35 program.

[seems like a real weak argument against the F-16]

While neither plane is out of the question, the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, another Boeing plane, has emerged as an appealing, though unorthodox, alternative.

Boeing has given the Navy an unsolicited offer to buy 149 of those aircraft carrier-based fighters as part of a multiyear procurement plan at $49.9 million apiece. The price tag would likely drop if the military bought more to equip Air Guard units.

. . .

The Air Force is focusing its budgets on the F-35, which eventually will make its way to the Air Guard. But leaders insist they are open to other solutions, if necessary.

Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, chief of the Air Guard, said last week he is “platform agnostic,” but mentioned the F-18 — along with the F-15 and F-16 — as a possible solution, especially if the F-35 program falls behind schedule.

But the defense official expects the Air Force to reject any efforts to buy Super Hornets — or any other older fighters. “The Air Force won’t do it willingly, more than likely, because it doesn’t meet their strategy,” he said.

. . .

Still, there would likely be concerns within the Air Force and even in some state Air Guard units that buying F-18s would complicate training and logistics.

But those arguments, the defense official said, are “not valid.”

seems most likely as a way to use airforce money to make the navy acquisition cheaper

or simply as a way to sell more super hornets as some of this is being pushed by Kit Bond (Senator from Missouri, where it’s built)