January 22, 2001 at 10:46 pm
It has been stated that Bush’s administration will look at all the current US military programs to evaluate which are expendable in the interest of saving money, and developing the next generation. The programs under scrutiny are the F-22, JSF, F/A-18E/F, V-22, and DD-21. What are your opinions on which are likely to survive?
My thoughts:
F-22-the USAF would likely sacrifice the JSF if it meant keeping the Raptor. Block 60 F-16s would be an effective stopgap measure, and it could mean some money could be funneled into a strike version of the F-22 as an eventual F-15E replacement.
F-18E/F-since this is the current future of naval aviation, and like the F-22 has already progressed well into development (the Hornet is already in production), this one seems likely to be safe as well. That doesn’t mean the numbers of F-22’s or F-18E/F will be safe, however; they may likely be shrunk in order to avoid outright cancellation.
V-22-looks a bit shaky here. Flight test problems may be an easy out for the government to cancel this one.
DD-21-one proposal is to scrap this project and reengineer it as a floating arsenal ship (anyone read Invasion by Eric L. Harry?) equipped with batteries of VLS missiles and even possibly a naval component of the ABM system. Possible axe here.
JSF-unfortunately also easy to get out of, since a production contract hasn’t been given yet and the flight test program could be relegated to researching the next generation of fighter, as Mikoyan has done with the MFI. I think the JSF may very well get the axe, especially if the USAF or USN is faced with an F-22/F-18E/F or JSF decision.
Comments?
By: monster500 - 3rd October 2001 at 01:53
RE: What will survive?
in a few months i dont think so you should see the downturn in airline bookings for forward months at emirates we have cut flights as capacity is not warranting these flights
singapore air has trimmed schedules and cut flights aswell as cathay pacific emirates swissair now bust qantas and the american airlines aswell this is gonna take a long time to recover from.The americans are not flying across the pacific in sustainable numbers on cathay united and sia
maybe atleast 2 years before consumer confidence can start to be restored and tthats being optimistic
By: keltic - 2nd October 2001 at 17:31
RE: What will survive?
I totally agree with Kabir. Things will be normal soon.
By: KabirT - 2nd October 2001 at 16:50
RE: What will survive?
This is just a phase….it will be all back to normal in a few months…wait and watch!