Huckabee Zeroes in on Government Waste

RT on the Many Failings of the F-35

Not that you should trust the former Russia Today on, well...anything.  Their story is based upon a damning report from the 'National Security Network' which you can read in its entirety here.

Don't Bring an F-35 to a Dogfight

Test Pilot Admits the F-35 Can’t Dogfight*

New stealth fighter is dead meat in an air battle

by DAVID AXE

A test pilot has some very, very bad news about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The pricey new stealth jet can’t turn or climb fast enough to hit an enemy plane during a dogfight or to dodge the enemy’s own gunfire, the pilot reported following a day of mock air battles back in January.

“The F-35 was at a distinct energy disadvantage,” the unnamed pilot wrote in a scathing five-page brief that War Is Boring has obtained. The brief is unclassified but is labeled “for official use only.”

The test pilot’s report is the latest evidence of fundamental problems with the design of the F-35 — which, at a total program cost of more than a trillion dollars, is history’s most expensive weapon.

The U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps — not to mention the air forces and navies of more than a dozen U.S. allies — are counting on the Lockheed Martin-made JSF to replace many if not most of their current fighter jets.

And that means that, within a few decades, American and allied aviators will fly into battle in an inferior fighter — one that could get them killed … and cost the United States control of the air.

...

The F-35 jockey tried to target the F-16 with the stealth jet’s 25-millimeter cannon, but the smaller F-16 easily dodged. “Instead of catching the bandit off-guard by rapidly pull aft to achieve lead, the nose rate was slow, allowing him to easily time his jink prior to a gun solution,” the JSF pilot complained.

And when the pilot of the F-16 turned the tables on the F-35, maneuvering to put the stealth plane in his own gunsight, the JSF jockey found he couldn’t maneuver out of the way, owing to a “lack of nose rate.”

The F-35 pilot came right out and said it — if you’re flying a JSF, there’s no point in trying to get into a sustained, close turning battle with another fighter. “There were not compelling reasons to fight in this region.” God help you if the enemy surprises you and you have no choice but to turn.

...

And to add insult to injury, the JSF flier discovered he couldn’t even comfortably move his head inside the radar-evading jet’s cramped cockpit. “The helmet was too large for the space inside the canopy to adequately see behind the aircraft.” That allowed the F-16 to sneak up on him.

In the end, the F-35 — the only new fighter jet that America and most of its allies are developing — is demonstrably inferior in a dogfight with the F-16, which the U.S. Air Force first acquired in the late 1970s.

Jack of all trades, master of none; Putting all your eggs in one basket; Throwing good money after bad -- There are probably other cliches as well that could be used to describe the F-35. Of course, just because something is a cliche, doesn't mean it's not true.

The US is in all or nothing with this plane, and it's dragging it's own allies down with it thanks to the shared funding of the JSF program.

I would think there are still some alternatives they could pursue, from the Rafale to the Eurofighter or the Super Hornet on the more advanced end, to fill the gaps in their aging forces, whilst holding off on too much of a commitment to purchasing F-35's till the US can get its act together.  But they presumably still want their flying Stealth Swiss Army Knife, and I suppose that, above and beyond the psychological pull of those sunk costs, there may be contractual consequences to placing orders later versus now.

Whatever.  I'm sure they know what they're doing.


* But of course the F-35 is so advanced that situation would surely never arise...until it did.


Update: Looks like WiB just published the actual report in .png format with the names of personnel removed.

Buy Now Before Supplies Run Out

IT’S crunch-time for the most expensive military project in history: After a decade of delays, cost blowouts — and a recent engine blow-up — the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter must now face reality.

The first armed and active squadron of 10 F-35 stealth fighters is scheduled to be handed over to the US Marines on July 10.

It’s been a long and bumpy ride for the project which was initiated as early as 1996 and first flew in 2006. It’s supposed to fill a wide variety of roles currently filled by ageing aircraft such as the F/A-18, A-10, F-16 — and the iconic Harrier ‘jump jet’.

Earlier this month several F-35A Lightning IIs for the first time took part in US war-games.

Yes, finally !

The F-35s currently flying aren’t the real thing. They’re “operationally representative” aircraft. After almost 20 years, they’re still not fully operational.

Even though they’re now supposed to be ready for combat.

Wait, what ?

The US Marine Corps says it will not be deploying its F-35B (Short Take-off, Vertical Landing) variant of the stealth fighter when they’re handed over next month.

They won’t be joining the fight against Islamic State or the posturing against Russia or China any time soon.

...

As delivered, the aircraft will be limited to escort, armed reconnaissance and some close air support missions.

This is because production F-35s have not yet been fitted with the non-stealthy wing pylons necessary to carry a significant array of weapons — including a gun pod — and key software hurdles remain for the integration of others.

Could we not just send up some Cesnas instead ?

There also remain concerns over the F-35’s controversial engine. As a new report reveals, the cause of a “catastrophic” engine fire which did $US50 million damage to an F-35 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida last year is yet to be fully resolved. The aircraft was set alight by a failed turbine rotor arm which spat turbine blades through the fuselage, severing the fuel and hydraulic systems which are packed tightly around the engine.

Don't let the whole 'might catch on fire' thing worry you.  After all, unlike our other product, these planes can...fly in the rain.

Despite the ongoing issues, the Pentagon has asked the US government to hand over $US11 billion for the purchase of 57 F-35s in the next fiscal year and urged further “upfront” commitment from international buyers — arguing that “bulk buys” of the unfinished aircraft will result in savings.

Of course it will.  C'mon, international buyers, can ya not spare a few billion for Unca' Sam ?  We'll have all the kinks worked out by oh, 2037 or so, and by then, whatta bargain these babies'll be !