USN Showdown between Super Hornet and F-35

[Max the Mad Russian]

If SAAB won't sell something to somebody within this decade, the whole airspace industry of Sweden may evaporate within the next decade. No wonder they are ready for rat-in-the-corner behaviour. Though almost ideal light-weight bird in a wake of "fighter mafia" legacy, Gripen may have troubles with modern SEAD works which Lightning II copes easy with. Though, do these three countries really need modern SEAD capabilities?

 

[Griz882]

Thought this was an interesting article about competition in Europe for aircraft sales. F-35, F/A-18, F-16, Saab, etc.

F-35 faces stiff competition as European nations decide on future fighters - Breaking Defense

Politics, diplomacy complicate decisions by Finland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland when it comes to the F-35 versus other American and international competitors.

breakingdefense.com

Politics, diplomacy complicate decisions by Finland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland when it comes to the F-35 versus other American and international competitors.

Interesting. I am surprised it ever got this far, the F-35 is a ton of cash for an airplane.

 

[jackjack]

Interesting. I am surprised it ever got this far, the F-35 is a ton of cash for an airplane.

It is a ton of cash. It's just that it's the cheaper than the others in the Swiss comp.

F-35 Nabs $6.5B Swiss Deal; 'Lowest Operating Costs' - Breaking Defense

"Switzerland has no industrial or program stake in the program, and Swiss procurement, like the country, is largely neutral, so this reflects very well on the F 35’s overall technical appeal," aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia of Teal Group says.

breakingdefense.com

 

[Flash]

Thought this was an interesting article about competition in Europe for aircraft sales. F-35, F/A-18, F-16, Saab, etc.

F-35 faces stiff competition as European nations decide on future fighters - Breaking Defense

Politics, diplomacy complicate decisions by Finland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland when it comes to the F-35 versus other American and international competitors.

breakingdefense.com

Politics, diplomacy complicate decisions by Finland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland when it comes to the F-35 versus other American and international competitors.

Politics indeed, pretty interesting to see some of the shenanigans behind the curtain and what has come to light in the press over the years when it comes to fighter sales, or defense sales in general, to include some European countries that aren't otherwise known for corruption. With US weapons sales countries know exactly what they are going to get, to include support, and without the often attendant corruption which actually serves as a deterrent to some.

Interesting. I am surprised it ever got this far, the F-35 is a ton of cash for an airplane.

It is a ton of cash. It's just that it's the cheaper than the others in the Swiss comp.

F-35 Nabs $6.5B Swiss Deal; 'Lowest Operating Costs' - Breaking Defense

"Switzerland has no industrial or program stake in the program, and Swiss procurement, like the country, is largely neutral, so this reflects very well on the F 35’s overall technical appeal," aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia of Teal Group says.

breakingdefense.com

The F-35 has gotten to the point now where it is actually cost-competitive with its 'competitors' to include the F-16 and Gripen.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Politics indeed, pretty interesting to see some of the shenanigans behind the curtain and what has come to light in the press over the years when it comes to fighter sales, or defense sales in general, to include some European countries that aren't otherwise known for corruption. With US weapons sales countries know exactly what they are going to get, to include support, and without the often attendant corruption which actually serves as a deterrent to some.





The F-35 has gotten to the point now where it is actually cost-competitive with its 'competitors' to include the F-16 and Gripen.

I was somewhat surprised that the cost for the F-35 appears to have dropped below that of the Marines new CH-53K heavy lift helicopter. You got any thoughts on the different European aircraft mentioned in the article?

 

[Brett327]

I was somewhat surprised that the cost for the F-35 appears to have dropped below that of the Marines new CH-53K heavy lift helicopter. You got any thoughts on the different European aircraft mentioned in the article?

There are several European nations with open FMS cases for Growler, so the SH ecosystem is going to make a lot of sense for a variety of reasons.

 

[Flash]

I was somewhat surprised that the cost for the F-35 appears to have dropped below that of the Marines new CH-53K heavy lift helicopter. You got any thoughts on the different European aircraft mentioned in the article?

They're close to 20 years older than the F-35 without the same integrated systems/weapons or the backing of the biggest military in the world for the next 30 or more years with an inventory that'll exceed well over 1000 aircraft.

Since Switzerland was in a pretty unique position; with the lack of a unitary executive, probably the most democratic defense procurement process in the world and less integration with the rest of Europe than almost all of its neighbors that all not only insulated it from much of the pressure and influence that its neighbor would experience but also made for what appears to be a pretty fair fighter contest that was won by the best competitor.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Some more from the Commandant.

Berger: Marine 2030 Force Design Is Nearly Complete; Concepts Now Being Modeled, Tested

He also noted expeditionary ships, commercial ships and other alternative platforms would have a place in future operations to supplement traditional amphibious warships. “What I know will not work is a few dozen gray-hull L-class ships by themselves. They will be targets. We need them, but we need much more than just that,” he said.... And we need to really think creatively about how we embark forces and systems on platforms that are not necessarily an LPD-17 or a Flight II or an LHA/LHD. If they’re floating, we need to figure out how to use it.”

https://news.usni.org/2019/10/03/be...ly-complete-concepts-now-being-modeled-tested


Berger: Marines Focused on China in Developing New Way to Fight in the Pacific

https://news.usni.org/2019/10/02/be...in-developing-new-way-to-fight-in-the-pacific

Looks like some serious infighting in The Corps.

How two dozen retired generals are trying to stop an overhaul of the Marines

Current plans call for shedding troops and equipment in preparation to take on China.

www.politico.com

How two dozen retired generals are trying to stop an overhaul of the Marines​

Current plans call for shedding troops and equipment in preparation to take on China.

 

[Griz882]

Looks like some serious infighting in The Corps.

How two dozen retired generals are trying to stop an overhaul of the Marines

Current plans call for shedding troops and equipment in preparation to take on China.

www.politico.com

How two dozen retired generals are trying to stop an overhaul of the Marines​

Current plans call for shedding troops and equipment in preparation to take on China.

The only thing more tiresome than a general is a retired general.

George III

 

[IKE]

The only thing more tiresome than a general is a retired general.

George III

And the only thing more tiresome than a retired General is a retired Admiral spamming my mailbox with shady mortgage refinance offers.

Thomas Lynch (admiral) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Griz882]

And the only thing more tiresome than a retired General is a retired Admiral spamming my mailbox with shady mortgage refinance offers.

Thomas Lynch (admiral) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

But the veteran friendly low, low interest rates!

 

[phrogdriver]

Looks like some serious infighting in The Corps.

How two dozen retired generals are trying to stop an overhaul of the Marines

Current plans call for shedding troops and equipment in preparation to take on China.

www.politico.com

How two dozen retired generals are trying to stop an overhaul of the Marines​

Current plans call for shedding troops and equipment in preparation to take on China.

A cabal of graybeards clearly has an issue. Whether that represents anything within the senior ranks of the Corps is an outstanding question.

 

[HuggyU2]

I'd like to see a list of who those "retired" generals collect income from currently.

 

[Brett327]

A cabal of graybeards clearly has an issue. Whether that represents anything within the senior ranks of the Corps is an outstanding question.

I'm taking an educated guess that most of them are fuck-stick has-beens that have no idea what they're talking about.

 

[Hotdogs]

A cabal of graybeards clearly has an issue. Whether that represents anything within the senior ranks of the Corps is an outstanding question.

The CPG purge has already occurred.