Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I've posted some articles concerning the issues with the F-22 over the last year with has cost a pilot his life. Several pilots are now refusing to fly the F-22 over the hypoxia issues amongst others. Some in congress and in the field are openly questioning if the plane is simply too advanced. The ref below covers the pilot issues from the 60 Minutes news program airing this Sunday @ 7pm EST. This is for FYI...
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_16...;videoMetaInfo

And a little news on the F-35 front which is indicative of the current overall situation in delaying buys or reducing them to include both which is the case for the U.S. where it's looking more life late 2016 to 2018. Some are already saying the Russian/Indian PAK-FA is looking like it'll be a better fifth gen fighter overall.
http://www.defensenews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

Regards,
Pat

[gila]

We all know there are problems with the F-22,and thats no surprise when the design is so out of the box.

I doubt a few test pilots biting the dust will kill a program thats been in development for so long and billions,dare i trillions,spent thus far.

Remember the P-38 was considered a death trap(seems it tend to be unstable) until Lindberg flew it,then the problem was fixed.

Don't listen to the talking heads who don't know,the F-22 would and will be an excellent state of the art jet when they get the bugs worked out,if the sheer cost of it does not make it not feasable,and congress kills the program,what a shame that would be!

That said doubt we be seeing the F-22 in this game for awhile.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well life and two weeks of poison ivy (AND CONTINUEING. ) has served to push my cut off of 1 Jun to the "line in the sand" starting now with the last of the news posts to ready my inputs for the 2012/2013 Campaign. All newspaper stories are from DID unless noted. So by the first topic I came to we start...

1. UK reverses it's 3020 SDSR decision of which this was the "linchpin" for it, MOD will go back to the F-35B vice F-35C. this will save 2BPds QE carrier modifications and get the fleet air arm operational 5yrs. sooner by 2018-2020 vice 2023. Just follow the "bouncing" ref dates.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ter-plane.html
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/31773/
TRACK.

2. With India's MMRCA program settled (Sort of.) Brazil's F-X2 Program restarts again...slowly.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...program-04179/
TRACK PROGRAM.

3. PAK-FA could be pushed out of the game, at least for India, Russia is still up in the air.
http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2012/...ussian_16.html
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...fighter-03133/
TRACK.

4. Afghanistan gets the C222/C-27A. Paras will be the issue game wise.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...r-Force-05094/
VERIFY Paras/ADD.

5. Future of Canada's CF-16s future tied into it's decisions about the F-35. You will note issues like these will have a significant bearing on who gets the F-35 and who doesn't by games end.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...n-fighter-jets
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/34200/
TRACK.

6. Chile looking to replace it's F-5E by 2015. Or will it? See what another country is doing with theirs in the Patch Page in the Fall.
http://www.dmilt.com/index.php?optio...rica&Itemid=58
TRACK.

7. Israel has questions about the F-35, this made for interesting reading.
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/958/
FYI.

8. Asian U.S. partmers need fighter upgrades to counter growing threats to the region.
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/1003/
http://defense-update.com/20111213_d...r_defense.html
FYI.

9. Finnish F-18 to get new weapon in 2016. Let's call this the weapons section as well.
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/32980/
9A. U.S. tests JSOW-ER successfully.
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/32405/9.B. USN/USMC complete LG MAVERICK testing 4 for 4.
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/31611/
9.C. India orders PGM from Israel for MIRAGE 2000.
http://www.dmilt.com/index.php?optio...asia&Itemid=569.D. USAF B1B conducts it's first op using the new LJDAM. What's useful here also is the table showing current aircraft capable/using the JDAM and current country users as well.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...rstrikes-03313/
9.E. Korea orders CBU-1050/B Sensor fuzed weapons.
http://www.dmilt.com/index.php?optio...asia&Itemid=56
9.F. To get to Irans Nuc Facilities the USAF has a new MOP for "deeper" cleaning.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...172/#more-3172
9.G. PAVEWAY IV ready for the RAF.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...ritiain-03644/
9.H. Philippine OV-10 now armed with LG bombs.
http://www.dmilt.com/index.php?optio...asia&Itemid=56
FYI/TRACK/ADD? INPUT WOULD HELP HERE FOR THIS STUFF-THANKS!

10. Italy has officially replaced it's last F-16's.
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/35789/
MODIFY ALL ACTIVE F-16 END DATES TO JUNE 2012.

11. Czech Republic likely to extend GRIPEN lease...they did recently.
http://www.dmilt.com/index.php?optio...rope&Itemid=57
FYI.

12. Japan offered the F/A-18E SH BLOCK II in it's F/X Program.
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/889/
TRACK PROGRAM.

13. India's MMRCA Program selection.
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/951/
http://www.dmilt.com/index.php?optio...asia&Itemid=56
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...changes-01989/
TRACK/ADD.

14. Russia linked to the Chinese J-20?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...77H1AZ20110818
FYI.

I have more but the "PI" is bothering me. Will hopefully finish this well...later today.

Regards,
Pat