Friday, October 11, 2013

T-50. Flight Demo Vid. via Defense Update.



Partial stealth.

Full agility.

Super Cruise.

Huge AESA.

More than 200 to be produced.

Why do I think we headed down the wrong path?  Consider the fact that China and Russia are getting closer militarily (remember the joint exercises earlier this year?).  Consider the fact that despite the USAF's best efforts those F-22's are getting long in the tooth in airplane years.  Consider the fact that the F-35 is in reality a bomb truck.

What should send chills down the spines of aviation enthusiast, engineers and pilots is the obvious that I had trouble wrapping my head around.



Flashback in time to the 1960s.  BAE had developed the Harrier and someone decided that to save money we would use that airplane for all three services.  The land and carrier based versions wouldn't have STOVL capability and the carrier based model would have larger wings but all three would use it.

That's basically what we're doing with the F-35!

The Harrier is perfect for the role intended by the USMC, but fails when pushed into requirements for the USN and USAF.  The Marines need a bomb truck.  The USAF and USN need fighters.  Fleet defenders.  Interceptors.

What was needed was a hyper upgraded, carrier capable F-16 (oh wait the USN already has the Ultra Hornet waiting in the wings).  What we got was a mess that is going to be the end of allied airpower within a decade.