US Air Force Can’t Afford Its Fighter Jets Past 2021 *update*

[GhostZ06]

WASHINGTON — The US Air Force will not be able to afford the fighter aircraft it needs after 2021 if the service’s current budget topline doesn’t change, according to the Pentagon’s latest 30-year aviation report.

As the armed services continue to tighten their belts, the Air Force is being forced to retire more aircraft than it procures. This means that fighter aircraft inventory will take a significant hit after 2021, and will continue to erode until it reaches its lowest level in 2031, according to the Pentagon’s annual aviation, inventory and funding plan for fiscal years 2017 through 2046.

beyond 2021. But the Air Force does not have enough money to meet that requirement, according to the report. The service currently has 1,971 attack aircraft in inventory, including A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F-22s and F-35As.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...t-afford-its-fighter-jets-past-2021/84789148/

 

[PrinceOfPain]

Is this real, or just a ploy to get more money?

 

[Orgasmo]

Is this real, or just a ploy to get more money?

Definitely a money grab

They can afford the purchase fighter jets, maybe just not as many as they would like.

 

[GhostZ06]

Is this real, or just a ploy to get more money?

well in general the F-22 is under produced and its sub variants where near made able to be produced either to replace F-15s and F-15Es

 

[GhostZ06]

Definitely a money grab

They can afford the purchase fighter jets, maybe just not as many as they would like.

let's say its a mix of both

 

[ShinkanPo]

War is expensive other countries will have the same problem though.


Its just military hardware just got so expensive this last few decades that you cant match the production volume of 2nd world war when they were building propeller planes.


I think Prop war planes will have a comeback in the form of hordes of automated armed drones.

 

[GhostZ06]

War is expensive other countries will have the same problem though.


Its just military hardware just got so expensive this last few decades that you cant match the production volume of 2nd world war when they were building propeller planes.


I think Prop war planes will have a comeback in the form of hordes of automated armed drones.

we can afford them, giving lockheed more money isnt something i think we should do.

 

[VivaRevolution]

LOL, at hands out stretched after the F-35 disaster.

 

[GhostZ06]

LOL, at hands out stretched after the F-35 disaster.

Well to be fair, if they produced a 2 seater and maybe the X-44 model it'd be worth it

 

[VivaRevolution]

Well to be fair, if they produced a 2 seater and maybe the X-44 model it'd be worth it

Isn't the future really about drone warfare?

I mean aren't we already there now?

 

[ironwolf]

Fighter jets are cool.

 

[GhostZ06]

Isn't the future really about drone warfare?

I mean aren't we already there now?

no matter how hard people want this, drones are not really gonna over throw a pilot. how ever 1 manned aircraft piloting a 2 or 3 "unmanned wing men", there the future for you.

 

[VivaRevolution]

no matter how hard people want this, drones are not really gonna over throw a pilot. how ever 1 manned aircraft piloting a 2 or 3 "unmanned wing men", there the future for you.

Why?

 

[Prutfis]

LOL, at hands out stretched after the F-35 disaster.

The danish government just chose f-35 to replace our f-16s. I fucking facepalmed.

 

[Cmart]

Just outfit our aging fighters with autonomous kits and fly them remotely. No more having to be limited to what g-forces a pilot can endure, no more worrying about losing a pilot. Still have to maintain the planes, but might give them a longer useful life.

http://www.gizmag.com/boeing-f16-jet-unmanned-drone/29203/

 

[lfd0311]

Considering we're almost 25 years removed from the last war that featured any military that could even be considered to have an actual combat capable air command, and 40 years removed from the last war that featured actual, daily air combat, I don't see this as being a big deal.

 

[TeTe]

Definitely a money grab

They can afford the purchase fighter jets, maybe just not as many as they would like.

Which is fine... buy less military shit... lower taxes.

 

[Skip Reming]

we can afford them, giving lockheed more money isnt something i think we should do.

Why not? What alternative are you suggesting?

"if the service’s current budget topline doesn’t change"
IF

Which is fine... buy less military shit... lower taxes.

It wouldn't lower taxes. Military spending if very small compared to things like welfare.

 

[TeTe]

It wouldn't lower taxes. Military spending if very small compared to things like welfare.

Well, I realize that even if the feds drastically cut defense spending, it would be a fantasy to expect our taxes to be lowered.

However, the idea the more is spent on welfare than defense isn't accurate

According to the Feds

Defense spending = 21 percent
Welfare = 10 percent

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/federal_budget_pie

 

[Gutter Chris]

Look at the air force asking for free stuff.

Call me a skeptic but me down for money grab.