yes but on another hand you don’t want to replace the F-15s too early if they’re still flyable for like 8 more years. The defense budget of the current administration may not be available in 5 years if Trump is not reelected. So how many planes you’ll be able to buy is pretty much a wild guess.

It’s hard to know in advance because that will depend on the defense budget at that time. Even if they take the decision to get F-35s it might not be affordable with a budget of another president.

I wonder if they could build a cheaper variant of the F-35 for the ADF role. Like reusing sniper pods or existing IRSTs on the centerline station instead of the EOTS and maybe other things.

They have to decide on whether to insert the broader structural and mission systems upgrade plan into their FY19-FY-23 proposal to make sure there are funds sitting around by the time a decision is made on keeping the F-15C through the 2030s and into the early 2040’s or not. Even if they do not decide to keep it for that long you’ll still have F-15 C’s in service till the 2030 timeframe but in smaller quantity that will be gradually phased out 8-10 years ahead of where they would in case the USAF funds structural upgrades.

The current media attention stems from the USAF’s planing leading up to its FY19 budget submission next year, which must include these decisions for the FYDP.

When would they start SLEPing the structures if they decide to do it?

Costs too much vs F-35s. The F-35 is likely to get a 30% range boost thanks to a next gen engine.

The objective is to enable a wide set of assets to be interoperable like this and that is what some of these initiatives are tackling. It doesn’t matter if your cues come from an F-35, Predator, future fighter, unmanned aircraft, JTAC etc but that your offensive and defensive fires are closely integrated and can seamlessly upload and offload targeting quality data whether that is to an AEGIS battle management system to guide an SM6 or a future active SM2, or to the Army system to cue up a Patriot interceptor on on the offensive side as these processes and technologies advance to cover long range fires in the form of naval guns/EMRG and the Army’s LRPF. F-35 will be available with the Navy, Air Force and the Marines and will be there in quantity so it is a very good place to start (as the Navy and Marines have already done).

It is a significant argument in favor of the F-35. The F-35 can be used as a mini stealthy AWACS and JSTARS that can repel mass surface and air attacks with SAMs and SSMs. That would deny the enemy surface forces the ability to maneuver and attack.

The F-35 has the unique ability bring to bear high power sensors close to the targets so it could find targets for all sorts of artillery weapons. It could laser designate LG mortar rounds or LG excalibur. Or even they could make a LG TOW.

Or even they could make a submunition out of the SDB2, like by making a shorter version with smaller warhead and no tail kit. An LRPF could carry 3 or 4 of those.