I doubt very much the US would get in a direct conflict with China. Yet, to answer your question “YES” 100% As would Australia for that matter…….

No, but it’s what they prepare for.

If you’re planning on continuing counter insurgency war or bombing third world types, then stick with F-16C and load up on EMB-314 Super Tucanos.

As for Australia, they would support the US if the US was invading Australia. Australia has never had any independence in foreign policy.

That would depend on a number of factors. Yet, again the answer is YES. The UK and France have the US back and the same can be said for the reverse!

Just like the French had your back in Iraq in 2003. Or the Brits and French in Vietnam. Or just like the USA had UK’s back in Falklands.

Alliances are temperamental things based on national interest.

They haven’t received all of the planned upgrades. Yet, most will in the coming months and years. Nonetheless, production aircraft are coming down the line as we speak. (and heading to squadrons) Plus, do we see Upgraded F-15C’s entering service. Even anytime in the near future?

“Heading to squadrons” is meaningless.

You seem to be completely ignorant of the difference between a test squadrons to a training squadron to a combat capable squadron.

You also seem to not have an understanding that just because an aircraft is built does not make it a combat asset. E.g. out of 187 odd F-22s delivered to the USAF, only about 100 are combat coded with requirered software. Rest are training jets only.

Provide a source……..(squadron just received first aircraft)

You provide a source that if we’re at war tomorrow, the Marines can deploy those aircraft in a combat warzone.

F-35 is not cleared for combat, it’s not cleared for most ordnance releases.

I think it was Hill AFB or SHAW AFB that was suppose to start receiving F-135A’s this year.

So what? Those are squadrons that will not be combat capable.

The point was the large number are in service with production standard aircraft now coming down the line. Plus, I never said today. We were talking about the next several years.

You’re always talking next several years with no actual mention of an IOC.

Meanwhile the USAF is upgrading over 1,000 F-16s and several hundred F-15C/D/E to be able to be combat capable in the 2025-2030 range.

Oh and the USN is also upgrading F/A-18s.

What is times of crisis or war the USN and USMC plus Allies won’t support the USAF?

The USAF wants to retain it’s own ability to fly Air Dominance missions. That means upgrading F-15s as insufficient F-22s have been delivered.

Again so what??? The President of the United States, Sec of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Congress. Make the final say…….

I’m sure those all get involved in the nitty gritty of planning mission requirements and assets .

Well, you are the one dumb enough to state the US closes Allies would not be reliable partners. That is down right insulting and yet again shows your lack of maturity and knowledge of the subject!

Really?

Look at history.

Even NATO operations such as Kosovo and Libya showed considerable lack of reliance by allies.

In Libya Germany pulled out all its AWACS operators from NATO E-3s.

In both Libya and Kosovo, NATO members often restricted its aircraft to defensive air policing actions only or didn’t deploy aircraft.

Even Robert Gates has lamented at the NATO partners commitment to defence.

But of course in your eyes, we all live in a world where everyone is friendly and flies full spec F-35s.

I doubt Allied Typhoons or Rafales come into consideration.

Foreign allies are unreliable and in any case can’t really muster any level of serious operational capability against a China/Russia type opponent.

The F-15C is still more capable than upgraded F-16s or F/A-18s.
As for F-35, isn’t USAF specifying IOC at 2018?

And how long until they’re 100% operational and operational in sufficient numbers?

I can see why the US wants to keep it’s F-15s flying.

Fair point but it could the USAF wants to maintain absolute overkill level advantage over opponents.

The USAF and USN are also upgrading ageing F-16, F/A-18 and A-10 so they can be “maximum overkill” up to the point where the F-35 comes on line.

Perhaps they’re not too confident of F-35 being delivered in numbers on time.

Also they might not be wanting to take any chances against existing threats – after all we’ve never seen a Su-27/-30 in proper combat flown by a close to peer level opponent.

The obvious answer is to retire the F-15 C/D early to make money available for F-35. The F-15 C/D is too expensive for air-policing and to old as a first line air dominance fighter. If you retire the whole fleet for just one squadron of F-35 you actually gain more fighting power.

The F-15C/D is not “too old” for an air dominance fighter. USAF Golden Eagles are being updated with AESA to allow them to serve into 2020s. These will continue to be more than a match for most opponents.

I seriously doubt 20 F-35s = 178 F-15s.

Numbers do count. 20 F-35s isn’t worth anything really – once you take into account training and maintenance, you have ****** all aircraft left for combat aircraft. And heavens forbid you lose an aircraft to say a bird strike or pilot error or mechanical failure.

Even worse if you want to deploy aircraft in different locations.

Geography alone means numbers are important. Attrition. saturation and flexibility are others.

Also F-15s still serve with 3 active units in air dominance role – 1 in USAFE and 2 in PACAF. The ANG ones would also be deployed in combat operations. Given current F-15 v F-22 numbers, F-15 is just as important as F-22 in air dominance role.

ANG no longer does air policing with second rate equipment. Most ANG squadrons have very active multi-role combat roles and usually pools of very experienced pilots.

Bare in mind the 199 FS equipped with F-22s is an ANG unit, whilst active duty 19 FS is it’s associate.

Not really as the US replaced them with New F-16’s. Which, is my whole point.

Not all – look at the number of squadrons and wings deactivated. And they weren’t all F-4G, F-111 or A-7 squadrons.

A lot were F-16 equipped, especially recent ANG squadrons which operate F-16 Blk 25/30.

A lot of squadrons have become Associate (share aircraft) or have had their role (and therefore aircraft) changed.

Clearly, we will see less F-22’s and F-35’s than F-15’s and F-16’s. Yet, how many less is very debatable at this point.

Well with F-22 we know it was only 187 a/c which is considerably less than F-15. In fact the USAF will retain nearly as many F-15Cs (178) as it got F-22s.

As for F-35, who knows.