Many planes also see their mission-capable rates slowly improve as they age. The F-22 Raptor, for example, went from 51.25 percent in 2003 to 60.94 percent in 2010.Read the whole story here, but this is curious...the Air Force Association and the USAF is not giving us the full story on the F-22 experience. A mission capable rate that rises from 51 percent to 60 percent is hardly something to brag about and is well below the MV-22 rate which has been claimed as a reason to cancel that airplane.
AMAZING!~
Add to it that the Air Force Association is talking about building more F-22's (read that here) and you have another case of massive spin by an advocacy group for the USAF....the F-22 isn't the world beater many would have us believe.
Wow, 60 percent readiness is definitely not brag-able for the F-22, especially given the latest accident in Alaska. However, a Ferrari with 60 percent readiness is different than a Ford with 50 percent readiness. Troop haulers like the CV-22 should be expected to maintain a much higher level than that. The CV-22 capabilities are exciting, but its complexity may be its undoing. Hopefully, the engineers and maintainers can figure out ways to work out those issues (with both platforms).
ReplyDeleteAnd exactly WHY do you think the increase and current F-22 MC rate is 'hardly something to brag about'? What is your standard by which make this judgement?
ReplyDeleteI ask, because based upon having enough experience on the subject to be considered a SME, especially as it applies to low observable platforms, I would probably characterize that MC rate and trend - given the numbers of platforms fielded, maturity of the maintenance concept/experience of the maintainers, organizational learning curves, and (mostly) peacetime ops priorities -- as in all probability... Freakin' Outstanding! (don't get cocky Maintainers!)
SMSgt Mac, I think you missed my point. The F-22 readiness level is accepted for LO platforms, but compared to previous (non-LO) front-line fighters that rate is low. Having only 186 in inventory exacerbates the issue of readiness rate. Hopefully, the F-35 will demonstrate higher rates due to LO coating/maintenance improvements. It was Sol's point that the CV-22 readiness *was* acceptable given the F-22 rates. The CV-22 does not have LO coatings, and is a totally different type of aircraft. Therefore, the comparison between the two is not really fair to either.
ReplyDelete"A mission capable rate that rises from 51 percent to 60 percent is hardly something to brag about and is well below the MV-22 rate which has been claimed as a reason to cancel that airplane." I don't see where I missed the point at all – at least the one that was expressly written.
ReplyDeleteBTW: I have a new colleague at work who is a freshly-retired USMC Major (LDO Maintainer) who also just finished his last tour in Afghanistan. He tells me that the MV-22 capabilities are awesome and the MC rate isn’t outrageous at all when put in perspective. He particularly liked the fact that when they go out, they don't break very often during missions. They do their job quickly and then get home without diverting. If there is any parallel to be drawn between the two systems, it is that they both introduce revolutionary new capabilities that aren’t appreciated by those who can’t wrap their heads around what the systems really bring to the field.
My comment was directed at the strategic policy decisions, not at the maintainers themselves. I believe this article was comparison of the platforms in that context, however I can see your perspective.
ReplyDeleteWith respect to these platforms themselves, I completely agree both the MV-22 and F-22 offer exceptional capabilities that are indeed quite revolutionary.