12-23-2016, 12:35 AM
Two of Trump's latest tweets suggest killing the F-35 program and replacing it with an improved F-18 Hornet, and a significant upgrade of our nuclear program "until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."
I'm disagreeing with both. I don't think anyone approves of how the F-35 program has turned out. As usual, the Pentagon asked for something considerably beyond the state of the art, and the result was overruns and extreme cost. We have to streamline the procurement process. However, the F-14 went into production around 1980. This was before stealth technology was really implemented. The vertical take off model of the F 35 is designed to replace the Harrier, another no stealth 1980s design. America is accustomed to taking air superiority for granted. With Russia and China producing new models of stealth jets, going with 35 year old designs for our front line fighters doesn't seem prudent.
Perhaps the F35 is so bloated and expensive that it deserves to be aborted. Perhaps we should start several redesigns for a naval air superiority fighter, a Harrier jump jet replacement and perhaps a land based air superiority plane. The notion of designing one plane that can do every task under the sun has repeatedly failed. Well, if one designs an air superiority plane, one can strap air to ground weapons under the wing, and it can do the job just fine. The Phantom IIs and Eagles could do both jobs well enough, and the Eagles are still at it.
But counting on a 1980s design to do all of the above while competing with modern aircraft won't fly. Trump ought to know better.
With regard to nuclear capability, we still have overkill MAD. What do we need super overkill MAD for? There is a missile gap, and it is all in our favor, if in our favor means their rubble will have smaller pebbles than our rubble. Until someone we want to obliterate develops some pretty darn serious anti ballistic missile capability, there is no need to do more than maintain current capabilities. We don't need to escalate a nuclear arms race. If anyone needs to come to his senses regarding nuclear escalation, it would be Trump.
But I three quarter expect that these tweets were so much big lie and bluster, attempts to manipulate the news cycle rather than serious policy.
I'm disagreeing with both. I don't think anyone approves of how the F-35 program has turned out. As usual, the Pentagon asked for something considerably beyond the state of the art, and the result was overruns and extreme cost. We have to streamline the procurement process. However, the F-14 went into production around 1980. This was before stealth technology was really implemented. The vertical take off model of the F 35 is designed to replace the Harrier, another no stealth 1980s design. America is accustomed to taking air superiority for granted. With Russia and China producing new models of stealth jets, going with 35 year old designs for our front line fighters doesn't seem prudent.
Perhaps the F35 is so bloated and expensive that it deserves to be aborted. Perhaps we should start several redesigns for a naval air superiority fighter, a Harrier jump jet replacement and perhaps a land based air superiority plane. The notion of designing one plane that can do every task under the sun has repeatedly failed. Well, if one designs an air superiority plane, one can strap air to ground weapons under the wing, and it can do the job just fine. The Phantom IIs and Eagles could do both jobs well enough, and the Eagles are still at it.
But counting on a 1980s design to do all of the above while competing with modern aircraft won't fly. Trump ought to know better.
With regard to nuclear capability, we still have overkill MAD. What do we need super overkill MAD for? There is a missile gap, and it is all in our favor, if in our favor means their rubble will have smaller pebbles than our rubble. Until someone we want to obliterate develops some pretty darn serious anti ballistic missile capability, there is no need to do more than maintain current capabilities. We don't need to escalate a nuclear arms race. If anyone needs to come to his senses regarding nuclear escalation, it would be Trump.
But I three quarter expect that these tweets were so much big lie and bluster, attempts to manipulate the news cycle rather than serious policy.
That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.