via Flight Global.
Former US Navy chief of naval operations Adm Gary Roughead says the US Department of Defense (DoD) should consider eliminating the F-35A version of the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in favour of the carrier-based F-35C. In recent weeks, the idea has gathered momentum with current and former defence officials saying the Pentagon's office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) is studying the idea even though the DoD officially denies those claims.Read the entire article for yourself, but I'm getting F-35 overload.
Roughead says the question must be asked as to whether it is better to reduce the number of F-35 variants to a short take-off and vertical landing variant and one version that can take-off and land conventionally. "My simple logic says it probably is, but there are a lot of factors that go into it," he says.
Roughead says it makes sense to have the US Air Force adopt the C-model jet because it can operate from land bases as well as from the US Navy's 11 "big deck" aircraft carriers, whereas the A-model cannot. "The reason that I said to go with the C is because you will still want to be able to use the JSF from aircraft carriers," he says. It also has greater range than the USAF's A-model aircraft.
"There will clearly be some firmly-held beliefs in play," Roughhead says. "But I think that when you're in the budget times in which we're in, there are no dumb ideas."
I personally see this as a move to lower the cost of the C model. I think some like the former Admiral, probably know the F-35's capabilities and know that they need it aboard carriers. These same people also see the handwriting on the wall and realize that its going to be the "least" produced model and with the F-35B picking up orders, probably soon the most expensive.
How do you get the price down in a big way?
You make everyone that was going to buy the F-35A, instead buy the C.
Will it work? I don't know, but on the surface it seems like a bad idea.
Other considerations? You might get a squadron or two of USAF F-35's that could operate off big carriers.
