Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

Economics will always drive military decisions whether in terms of money or, in our world slots.

Always does.
I not-so-fondly remember taking up collections among the unmarried folks so the married ones could pay their rent/eat during the Carter years budget shenanigans.

Originally Posted by shahadi

A stealthy fighter/bomber only as long as the ammo stores are internal. Once those bomb doors open it is no longer stealthy. If it flies in CAS with external stores, and as I understand, with a reduced load as compared to the A-10, at least in the F-35B it is far from what the money bought.

The thing folks keep forgetting is the idea is the initial bombing missions with drastically reduced internal stores are to allow opposition air defense capabilities to be neutralized/reduced. After this has happened they can fly with full external stores, and be just as stealthy as say an F-16, because they no longer have to worry (near as much) about high-tech air defense weapons. Sure there will still be non-radar directed AA guns and MPADS and other heat seeking stuff but F-16s currently face that now and manage to still do their job.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I warn you in advance the below is a very in depth analysis, the topic covers the broad range of issues concerning the RN/RAF use of the F-35, HARRIERS and the F/A-18A/G SUPER HORNETS. Also it covers Carrier Ops, coordinated Air Ops, Carriers (QE Class.) and weapons. These are a series of memorandums from Commander "Sharkey" Ward, DSC, AFC, RN, considered by many as "Father of HARRIER Ops" as sent to MOD and MP's. There are date tabs on the upper Left corner to guide you. To read this you must go to the bottom document and read down again and so on to the top of the ref. The time period covers March - June 2013. I'm only 3 or 4 in myself and find it very enlightening that parallels some of the issues we face here as well.
He has an excellent book out I read back around '95 while on patrol and just received a new hard bound ed. for my birthday just recently on HARRIER Ops during the Falklands War, its development and RN/RAF lack of understanding of it's operational capabilities along with inter services rivalries. Some might find it a interesting read though a little technical in the beginning.
Anyway here you go "Good Luck and Good Hunting"...
http://sharkeysworld2.blogspot.com/?view=classic

Regards,
Pat

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Always does.
I not-so-fondly remember taking up collections among the unmarried folks so the married ones could pay their rent/eat during the Carter years budget shenanigans.

The thing folks keep forgetting is the idea is the initial bombing missions with drastically reduced internal stores are to allow opposition air defense capabilities to be neutralized/reduced. After this has happened they can fly with full external stores, and be just as stealthy as say an F-16, because they no longer have to worry (near as much) about high-tech air defense weapons. Sure there will still be non-radar directed AA guns and MPADS and other heat seeking stuff but F-16s currently face that now and manage to still do their job.

Interesting. Bomb doors is misleading as the F-35 will carry air-air missiles internally as well. In fact, to retain stealth the bird must pack it's stores internally. Point here is that when the pilot opens the Weapons doors to let loose an air-air she's painted a tango. Even the gun is internal on the JSF.

In the game, I use jets although they are more eye candy than game "impactors." I can do more with attack helicopters than jets. Well a USV is handy too.

It was the former president of the United States Eisenhower that warned of a military-industrial complex in 1961.