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F-35 Delays Mean US Marines Are Pulling Old F-18s Out of Desert Storage

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Re: F-35 Delays Mean US Marines Are Pulling Old F-18s Out of Desert Storage

#4

"poses significant affordability risks" - this is my new favorite euphemism for "bloody expensive".

It's potentially a real issue, if the F-35 consumes too much of the Marines budget they won't have money for the stuff they do need. Think NASA with the space shuttle.

Re: F-35 Delays Mean US Marines Are Pulling Old F-18s Out of Desert Storage

#5
post #3

So what. It's not as if the US government is fighting anyone with any real air capability. You could use Vietnam aircraft and still win against the threat.

Problem currently (Iraq and Syria) is the Air Force is being only able to run limited sorties against a large number of small targets like pickup trucks with 20mm cannons on the back.

Re: F-35 Delays Mean US Marines Are Pulling Old F-18s Out of Desert Storage

#7
post #5
post #3

So what. It's not as if the US government is fighting anyone with any real air capability. You could use Vietnam aircraft and still win against the threat.

Problem currently (Iraq and Syria) is the Air Force is being only able to run limited sorties against a large number of small targets like pickup trucks with 20mm cannons on the back.

The way to hit an unsophisticated target like that is come at them out of the sun. They won't see or hear you coming.

Re: F-35 Delays Mean US Marines Are Pulling Old F-18s Out of Desert Storage

#8
post #3

So what. It's not as if the US government is fighting anyone with any real air capability. You could use Vietnam aircraft and still win against the threat.

The Danish government have the same issue. The plan is to buy 27 F-35s, but that's not really enough for anything. They are suppose to replace 60 F-16s. Even if the F-35 is as good as it's claimed, and the Russians are coming, I think you'd be better of with twice the number of some less advanced planes.

Re: F-35 Delays Mean US Marines Are Pulling Old F-18s Out of Desert Storage

#9
post #6
post #3

So what. It's not as if the US government is fighting anyone with any real air capability. You could use Vietnam aircraft and still win against the threat.

Right, but the better planes are needed for deterrent.

If the money was used instead in financial vehicles for the adversarial countries in question, the created economic codependence would very likely be more effective than this plane

Re: F-35 Delays Mean US Marines Are Pulling Old F-18s Out of Desert Storage

#10
post #6
post #3

So what. It's not as if the US government is fighting anyone with any real air capability. You could use Vietnam aircraft and still win against the threat.

Right, but the better planes are needed for deterrent.

From what the Germans? I thought nuclear weapons were for deterrent.
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