US Air Force - USAF

Rappel du premier message :

l´USAF plane de retirer +300 jets,dont:

-137 F-15
-177 F-16
-9 A-10s

11 ans avant leur date,pour epargner 3,4B$ et accelerer ainsi les F-22/35

mais ca doit dabord passer le congress et le futur president doit signer!

Citation :

US Air Force eyes fighter cuts to boost modernization
Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:51pm EDT



WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force is seeking to retire early more than 300 fighter aircraft next year to save $3.4 billion in the hope of funding advanced Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) fighters and other modernization efforts, a published report said on Wednesday, citing internal Pentagon documents.

The plan would retire 137 F-15 and 177 F-16 fighters plus nine A-10 close air support attack aircraft as much as 11 years before the end of their scheduled useful lives, InsideDefense.com, an online news service, reported.

"Without accelerating these retirements, we are left with a larger, less-capable force unable to penetrate anti-access environments," the Air Force was quoted as telling John Young, the Pentagon's top arms buyer, in defense of a fiscal 2010 spending plan it submitted in August.

"Anti-access" is Pentagon jargon for spots defended by advanced surface-to-air missiles and state-of-the-art fighters such as those used or planned by Russia and China.

A key Air Force concern is what it calls a potential fighter gap until Lockheed's radar-evading F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is produced in large numbers.

An Air Force spokesman said it would be inappropriate to discuss an internal working document that will continue to change until it is incorporated into the next president's fiscal 2010 budget submission.

The document was quoted as saying an Air Force analysis showed a "smaller but modernized fighter force, when coupled with a robust bomber fleet, can effectively bridge the gap until the F-35 can be produced in required numbers (ramping to 110) and the F-22 can be modified to a common configuration."

Air Force officials have said they plan to increase F-35 production over the next five years to address the fighter gap, InsideDefense.com said.

Two F-35s have entered flight test, two are in ground test and 17 are in various stages of assembly, including the first two production-model jets scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Air Force in 2010, Lockheed said last month.

The president of the Air Force Association, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Dunn, said it remained to be seen if Congress would let the Air Force get rid of so many aircraft so early and if Pentagon leaders would grab the savings to fund competing priorities within other armed services.

"There will have to be a lot of dialogue inside the Pentagon between the Air Force and the office of the secretary of defense, probably the secretary himself, before a decision is made," Dunn, a former president of the Pentagon's National Defense University, said in a telephone interview.

Old warplanes typically involve high maintenance costs and may require big outlays for structural upgrades. Still, lawmakers often have blocked Air Force attempts to retire aging warplanes early, partly to preserve jobs -- in their voting districts -- at bases from which they are flown.

In the fiscal 2010 budget request being readied at the Pentagon for the next president, the Defense Department is seeking ways to continue production of Lockheed Martin's F-22, the top U.S. dog fighter, while boosting F-35 output to capture economies of scale quickly, Pentagon officials have said.

The final say on whether to go on building the F-22 is being left to the next president, who is to be elected Nov. 4 and take office Jan. 20 -- only weeks before the administration's budget request normally is sent to Congress.

The proposed early retirements represent accelerations of seven years in the case of the F-15, six years for the F-16 and 11 years for the A-10, according to the document cited by InsideDefense.com.

The savings would fuel a push to modernize the Air Force's bombers, late-date fighters and go toward a new "nuclear-specific" B-52 bomber rotational squadron and Northrop Grumman Corp'a (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial system expansion, the document was quoted as saying. (Reporting by Jim Wolf; editing by Carol Bishopric, Gary Hill)

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1531730620081015?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

187 F22, un chiffre ahurissant pour n'importe qu'elle AF, mais pour L'USAF, c'est petit . Tu as une idée Yak de combien de F22 ils etaient supposés se doter au debut du programme?

ca a ete reduit maintes fois,dans les 80s ils voulaient 800,apres ils sont descendus a 440 apres la chute de l´ÚRSS,puis 276 en 2002 et mtn 187

Les 2/3 de la commande escomptée. Je revise mon opinion, en fin de compte c'est pas si mauvais que ca surtout quand on voit les performances de la bete et les coupes sombres dans d'autres armées... (suedoise ) Reste a voir le taux de disponibilité

le f 35 n'est il pas lui aussi largement supérieur au avions russes et chinoix ?

bansheequader a écrit:

le f 35 n'est il pas lui aussi largement supérieur au avions russes et chinoix ?

Le JSF-35 est un programme qu'il reste encore à achever et qui a connu des dépassements budgétaires jugés insupportables par le congres américain. Le programme F-22 Raptor a été beaucoup mieux ficelé.
Mais je ne crois pas que ce soit sur le seul plan militaire que les choix du Pentagone sont fait. Le lobying fait aussi son effet

donc si mon raisonnement est correcte, les autres vecteurs de type f-16, f-15, f-18, ont encore de bons jours devant eux à l'export, puisque c'est inconsevable de vendre le f-22

Seguleh I a écrit:

187 F22, un chiffre ahurissant pour n'importe qu'elle AF, mais pour L'USAF, c'est petit .

Même si ça peut paraître un peu short, l'avion à quoi en face de lui qui puisse lui causer des misères? Si la supériorité de l'USAF sur les autres forces aériennes est totale grâce à ces 187 machines, en construire davantage ne serait peut-être pas un plus. Ce n'est pas toujours le nombre qui importe. Par contre, j'aimerais bien savoir ce qui se trouve dans les cartons des manufacturiers US en armement afin de remplacer AMRAAM et Sidewinder.

y´a un Bid pour le missile long range nouvelle generation,3 firmes sont dedant,ils auront 5 ans pour R&D,si ma memoire tient bien..

Ce sera un missile du genre MBDA Meteor?

oui
merde j´arrive pas a retrouver l´article je dois chercher encore

voila Rafi,retrouvé
il remplacera AMRAAM et HARM en meme temps

Citation :

DATE:01/04/09
SOURCE:Flight International
Next-generation missile contract attracts three bidders

At least three industry bidders have confirmed plans to compete for small technology contracts. The work could eventually generate the next major US missile development programme.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has invited proposals in the form of white papers for a five-year contract called the joint dual-role air dominance missile technology development (JDRADM-TD) phase.

The programme seeks to develop a longer-distance replacement for Raytheon's medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAM for use against airborne threats. It would also be uniquely designed to function as a ground radar killer, potentially replacing the company's AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missile (HARM).



As the maker of both current weapon systems, Raytheon confirms it is "considering a variety of technologies" that could meet the AFRL's call for a dual-role missile with improved kinematic performance.

Alliant Techsystems, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman formed an alliance last year to pursue dual-role missile technology, but in July declined to specify the JDRADM contract as a business opportunity. However, Lockheed now confirms that the group will submit a white paper in response to the AFRL's invitation.

Boeing also confirms plans to submit a proposal for the JDRADM-TD contract. Since 2006, the company has captured three AFRL awards related to the JDRADM programme, with separate studies to mature the technology for the seeker, warhead and missile.

The new AFRL contracts could force the industry teams to consolidate or face elimination, as only two bidding teams will be selected to complete the 38-month demonstration phase. If funding becomes available, the contract could be extended to 60 months.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/04/01/324629/next-generation-missile-contract-attracts-three-bidders.html

Merci pour l'info, Yakusa.

J'ai trouvé ça sur le net...

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-7182.html

de rien Raf´

seeker AESA et Ramjet
mais c´est encore dans la conception,d´ici sa maturaton le AIM120D sera le standard

Seguleh I a écrit:

187 F22, un chiffre ahurissant pour n'importe qu'elle AF, mais pour L'USAF, c'est petit . Tu as une idée Yak de combien de F22 ils etaient supposés se doter au debut du programme?

Seguleh I a écrit:

Les 2/3 de la commande escomptée. Je revise mon opinion, en fin de compte c'est pas si mauvais que ca surtout quand on voit les performances de la bete et les coupes sombres dans d'autres armées... (suedoise ) Reste a voir le taux de disponibilité

certes le F-22 les performances largement supérieures aux autres chasseurs 4++ permettent à l'USAF de garder son hégémonie avec un nombre relativement restreint de F-22, mais ce n'est pas tout. le shéma actuel avec des milliers de F-16/15 de toutes versions permettent à l'USAF de projetter des forces et disposer de forces de frappe significative dans les 4 coins du globe. ce qui n'est pas possible avec un nobre restreint d'appreil même techniquemnt performant.
le nombre restreint constitue un handicape tactique en dépit de la qualité des F-22/F-35.

Suite aux questions que nous avons soulevés ici (sur le nombre de raptor), il semblerait que la confusion regne aussi chez les premiers concernés (ils nous lisent???? )

Citation :

(Source: Project On Government Oversight (POGO); issued April 8, 2009)
	While we're excited by Defense Secretary Gates's decision to halt production of the F-22 at 187 planes, there is a lot of disbelief and confusion surrounding this decision. The confusion started as soon as the decision was announced, when Tony Capaccio at Bloomberg News asked Gates about it: QUESTION: The F-22 decision is going to get scrutinized, now that your budget has emerged from the shadows, so to speak. Can you give a sense of whether this was a close call or a no-brainer? And once--and why--why couldn't you have bought more? Why wouldn't--why wouldn't it fill the role that the Joint Strike Fighter will be filling, that you outlined? GATES: For me, it was not a close call. And the basic conclusion was that, first of all, we have fulfilled the program. I mean, it's not like we're killing the F-22. We will have 187 of them. That has--the 183 of that has been the program of record, as I recall, since 2005. So we are completing the F-22 program. And the military advice that I got was that there is no military requirement for numbers of F-22s beyond the 187. QUESTION: But the Air Force advice. They've been badgering you with all sorts of analysis that they'd need 60 more. GATES: That was their advice as well. QUESTION: It was their advice as well... GATES: Yes. QUESTION: ... that you didn't need more than 187? GATES: Yes. QUESTION: Really? OK. Air Force magazine has been working on figuring out whether this is really what the Air Force wants, given that Air Force National Guard Chief General Craig McKinley said as recently as February 26 that they need more than 183--and yes, 187 is technically more than 183, but not meaningfully so. Gates has been somewhat cagey, but has conceded that some services were clearly not happy with his decisions. But Air Force magazine found that even Gates's spokesman, Geoff Morrell, is unclear on the hopes of the Air Force versus the dreams of DoD: Q: The Air Force has been saying for some time that 183 is not enough. Gen. Schwartz said in his confirmation hearings that 381 was too high but 183 was too few. Adm. Mullen said last fall that he thought the Air Force's number was 60 more. A: Mullen said the Air Force should get 60 more? Q: Mullen said that it was his understanding that the Air Force wanted 'about 60' more F-22s. A: Well, that was some time ago. And as I say, this process has been underway for some months. Q: So, to put a fine point on it, the Air Force never recommended buying more than the 187 aircraft? A: That is correct. The fact that the Air Force won’t come out and openly disagree with Gates may be an indicator that there is real reform happening far as how business is done at DoD. And if so, Gates' procurement strategy not only reflects an emphasis on prioritizing current military threats, but also a method for effectively targeting the usual "guerilla warfare” employed by the services and the Hill to protect pet projects. But one thing that there's absolutely no confusion about is that Congress is prepared to fight back on these cuts. Needless to say, we're rooting for the public's best national security interests over Congress's parochial concerns.

Si quelqu'un a une photo du MC-12 je suis preneur.

Citation :

WICHITA, Kan. --- Winning the fight from up high just got more advanced since the recent delivery of the MC-12 Project Liberty special mission turboprop aircraft.

The MC-12 is the first of its kind for the Air Force and is set to venture downrange in May. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Brig. Gen. Blair E. Hansen, director of ISR Capabilities took delivery of the 16,500-pound special mission aircraft at the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation.

The Project Liberty program is part of the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' ISR task force and derives from his direction to provide enhanced ISR capabilities to U.S. Central Command.

The complexities of today's battlefield call for sophisticated capabilities and A2 intelligence officials said the MC-12 delivers.

"The MC-12 brings additional electro-optical and infrared full-motion video and signals intelligence to troops on the ground," General Hansen said. "The initial MX-15i system to be installed on the first eight aircraft features an infrared pointer, which allows the aircraft to signal an object or building to a soldier wearing special goggles on the ground," he said. The general added that a planned future upgrade will provide a state-of-the-art laser designator and allow it to target a position with formidable precision.

According to Hawker Beechcraft officials, the aircraft can provide more than eight hours of endurance and has the flexibility to loiter low and slow or cruise at 300 knots and 35,000 feet. Taking off with full fuel and payload, the MC-12 is uniquely equipped to perform medium-altitude surveillance for more than seven hours, fly back 100 nautical miles and still land with more than 45 minutes of fuel on board.

The MC-12 will augment unmanned systems already flying reconnaissance patrols over Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We think this is a core mission of the United States Air Force--medium altitude ISR," General Hansen said. "Through their advanced technology and reliability, these aircraft will increase the number of combat air patrols downrange."

Secretary Gates gave the green light to procure 37 MC-12 aircraft by the end of 2009.

Source: U.S Air Force; issued April 8, 2009

Il a l'air tout neuf ce A-10 ...

Merci Rap pour ces photos (il est sublime cet avion)
Viper, cet A-10 a ete amelioré chez Boeing (cela concerne une bonne partie du parc USAF), nouvelles ailes, nouvelle avionique en partie

j'ignorais qu'il avait un programme de retrofit sur l'A-10, en tous cas ça lui donne une seconde jeunesse ....

aucun autres pays n a de A 10?

Non aucun... d'ailleurs c'est étrange que boeing ne le propose pas à l'export ....

il l´etait dans les 80s
la turquie l´a consideré deja..(memoire)

dommage c est une belle bete

l´UK aussi y a pensé un temps,mais le probleme c´est le nombre,bien sure les Etats majors n´achetent pas comme ca,faut voir la chaine,en plus trop lourd,je sais pas mtn s´il est encore offert