Comments on: Logistics Could Doom the Mighty F-35 In a War

By: Winston Smith

Winston Smith — Wed, 03 May 2023 03:00:15 +0000

The F-35 is analogous with the state of America in 2023: overpriced, unsustainable and doomed to failure.

By: ATM

ATM — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:36:46 +0000

No one can afford real training flight time in a F-35 and as a result pilots spend most of their time in simulation. The result is the thinnest real supply chain in combat aircraft history.

It is bad enough that pilots spend most of the time on the ground in peace, but If a war lasts more than a few days we will see these things falling out of the sky on their own.

By: GhostTomahawk

GhostTomahawk — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 17:58:09 +0000

Sure am glad we dumped the F14. That plane was expensive to maintain. ????

There were plans to modernize the Tomcat which would’ve been vastly cheaper. No one really is ever going to use stealth fighters in open war. They’re too expensive.

By: D S

D S — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 20:27:59 +0000

In a hot war against a capable enemy, like China or Russia, there is a chance that a conventional or unconventional strike against factories producing needed parts could be attacked and taken off line. Stopping production for weeks, months or longer. As in world war 2 the means of production are legitimate targets. The generals cannot seriously think there would be no attempts to stop production of their missiles, aircraft, etc.

By: John

John — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:04:10 +0000

Ok DF-17 and DF-27 hypersonic missiles can strike our bases in Guam and Hawai. Our fighters will be destroyed on the ground. Our carriers will be hit in port.
However Space X Falcon Heavies and superheavies could be loaded up with antiship and antisatellite missiles such as SM-6 and quickly attack ships and even satellites.
We need to invest much more to create our own conventional missile force. A mobile conventional Trident D5 version would be a consideration. Yet we self deter and let the decepticons have all the good stuff

By: Doyle

Doyle — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:20:02 +0000

The demise of the F-35 has been greatly exaggerated but let the little arm chair critics have their day. By the time the F-35s need these supposed short supply spare parts who will be left flying on the other side?

By: Jeff in NM

Jeff in NM — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:24:06 +0000

What I found interesting is the term spare parts was only mentioned 2x in this article Are spare part issues related to items made by other countries; if so what particular supplier countries? I would ave thought all US military aircraft would have required USA sourced parts, apparently not? Is the spare part concern related to parts perhaps made in ROC-Tawain parts, as this small country makes so many semiconductor parts that was crippling to the USA vehicle market. If so, it seems to beg an even larger question as to why?

By: NorEastern

NorEastern — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 17:52:01 +0000

Every single modern fighter will face logistics problems during war time. That is certainly not the F-35’s issue alone. But the most important facts are that the F-35 features a 20:1 kill ratio against 4th generation fighters, and that the F-35 is purpose built to take out S-400 and other advanced A2/AD platforms. After the F-35s complete their work the Vipers and Hornets can clean up the mess easily.

By: Ben d'Mydogtags

Ben d'Mydogtags — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 17:31:50 +0000

This is not an F35 problem it is a supply-chain logistics problem. Parts shortages will ground any aircraft or any other complex system. Just ask the Iranians about trying to maintain their ancient F14s. At least the F35 will have a huge installed base across multiple branches and allies, so parts inventories will exist widely dispersed, or as a last resort there will be planes to cannibalize.

By: Walt Anderson

Walt Anderson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:55:22 +0000

Thanks for the pessimism. We MAY not be able to support the F-35 in a conflict that MAY or MAY NOT happen, and no amount of planning can change this pessimistic prediction. As a former B-52 pilot, I am sick and tired of reading anti-military predictions of America’s demise. What we really need are leaders with spines to rebuild America’s military readiness. Peace through Strength still works.

By: Brian Foley

Brian Foley — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:24:35 +0000

There’s an old axiom about war “Amateurs talk about tactics, rank amateurs talks about strategy, real professionals discuss logistics”. “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chase”.

By: Mario

Mario — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 15:59:23 +0000

Thank God we have Eurofighters!!!

By: Big Jake

Big Jake — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 12:58:09 +0000

The B-1 doesn’t need a new wing, it needs a new dorsal fuselage spine. It’s not a cheap fix

By: Big Jake

Big Jake — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 12:54:49 +0000

Mighty????

Bwahahahahaha! OMG….

By: John

John — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:35:39 +0000

Per Rand any short range US fighter is at high risk to be destroyed on the ground by Chinese missile barrages in a Pacific war unless there is disbursed basing, decoys etc. However fuel and munition storage points unlikely to survive.
We need many more long range strike options. More P-8s, restore and rewing B-1, build long range RQ180 and avenger Cs.
Give KC-46 long range strike capability
Build long range loitering munitions. Build long range SM-6.
Ramp up B-21. Reverse cancellation of ARRW
The USAF and USN continue to live in the 20th century spending hundreds of billions of dollars on short range fighters and super carriers instead of redirecting some of those monies to long range strike options

By: Georgina Will

Georgina Will — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:20:08 +0000

On small navy ships they routinely carry a PUK for the embarked helicopters. For a two aircraft compliment it is routine to have a very expensive helicopter engine sealed up in a can stowed away in case it is needed. Stowed away for MONTHS AT A TIME! The very antithesis of “just in time”. However, if that engine is needed and not stowed away on board the ship…guess how long the aircraft will be non flyable waiting for an engine to be shipped half way around the world…? Naval expeditionary forces cannot operate using “just in time” during peacetime…much less in a hot war.

By: Webej

Webej — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 21:41:37 +0000

The 17 countries were noted 3×. No mention of the strong-arm tactics the US employs to keep vassal states in line. It kind of reminds me of an 18 month multi-level evaluation, specifications, and comparison involving dozens of people and costing hundreds of thousands, which finally decided to go with Microsoft Office.

As for the kill ratios, unless i’m ignorant, the F-35 has never been in a dog fight or breached hostile Air Defenses.

By: David Chang

David Chang — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 19:36:31 +0000

God bless people in the world.

Commercial efficiency is the basic condition of the free market, and because of this, collision compensation, general average and marine insurance are additional necessary conditions. However, without the basic or necessary conditions in war, no people should be liable for post-war compensation even if there is war insurance, and rumor has it that Captain Mahan agrees with this policy.

Although the military logistics must be completed asap, we are limited by uncertain cause and delay the mission. For risk management, to reduce the risk making from uncertain causes, the similar regulation is the risk agent. To keep the backup plan at any time and keep two responsible persons who can perform the same task, and must also keep inventory double at any time.

So the U.S. representatives and senators should let people in the world understand that war is expensive and preparation requires more time.

God bless America.

By: 403Forbidden

403Forbidden — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 14:18:11 +0000

F-35s will be like the F-111 of nam war fame.

During the famous nam war, the initial combat debut of F-111 proved disastrous.

Many aircraft simply failed to return from night missions even though they were equipped with state-of-the-art terrain following radar.

The reason or cause was only discovered when surviving aircraft were returned to the US and put through their paces. Then, the pilot shouted A-ha, Eureka, I found it !!!

Ditto the f-35 when it is finally put through the stress and grind of daily combat against bat-from-hell opponents.

By: T Paine

T Paine — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:47:51 +0000

In addition to a parts problem and a poor readiness record, the F-35 also suffers from hundreds of mechanical design flaws 10 of which are Category 1 deficiencies that may cause death, illness or loss of aircraft. And now there is a cry for repowering the aircraft which will cost billions more.

This is what $1.7 trillion (and counting) buys us taxpayers these days. While we focus our investment on one poorly performing platform, China leaps ahead in hypersonic missiles and nuclear weapons while greatly expanding their land, sea, and air capabilities.

Our military procurement thinkers need a reboot, but no one is holding them accountable for their blunders. They keep asking for more $$$$ and Congress showers them with more. Madness.