tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post9013861871280596266..comments2024-01-12T18:59:05.080+00:00Comments on Defence With A "C": A year and a day into Project TempestUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-46216968406672508442019-07-19T20:46:38.387+01:002019-07-19T20:46:38.387+01:00My thought has always been that if you can afford ...My thought has always been that if you can afford it, two engines are better than one, but sometimes if all you can afford is one then it's better to have a decent fleet of those vs a very small number of twins.<br /><br />I think the F-35 might live a bit longer than you expect, because new jets are just so ridiculously expensive. The production cost is running down at a decent pace so I think orders will be completed as planned for the most part. At the minute drones seem to be the way forward and what everyone is looking at.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182426936194426623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-75607074572186678072019-07-19T16:41:59.872+01:002019-07-19T16:41:59.872+01:00Thoughts -
It seems a bit premature to talk abou...Thoughts - <br /><br />It seems a bit premature to talk about the "6th-generation" of combat aircraft, when the first aircraft of the 5th are barely at operating capacity.<br /><br />That being said, my suspicion is that the F-35 ends up being rapidly superseded by new development and orders get cut short. Everyone involved in that 20-year debacle just wants their share of the technology and some experience with their first next-gen fighter. Then they'll start investing in more local designs - Lockheed survives because of its close relationship with US politicians and Pentagon lobbying, not because of the quality of its product.<br /><br />I like to see Europe collaborating in developing Tempest, and I hope it is a true pan-European project (though how often have those worked out?). Sweden may be coming on board to reduce its dependence on over-expensive and export-controlled US tech.<br /><br />Here's a prediction - in the next 5 years or so, all-aspect stealth will be judged too expensive for most combat aircraft (availability rates on F-35s remain atrocious for an "accepted" fighter). In part, because networked distributed multispectral sensors and sufficient computing horsepower can compensate for stealth. <br /><br />Question - is there good info out there on costs vs. capabilities with respect to twin engine aircraft? I've always been on the side of two engines for fighters because of the risk of failure or damage to one, but my thinking is based on Pacific considerations, where range and endurance will eventually have to be boosted to keep carriers out of range of land-based threats.<br /><br />Once the UK's Brexit debacle has finally been put to bed (my $ has always been on Leave never happening) that will hopefully stabilize defence planning. As the US consumes itself, the EU will be dealing with Russia mostly on its own.Andrew M. Tannerhttp://www.raednerian.orgnoreply@blogger.com