mzaharis
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2004
- Posts
- 541
One thing I wonder - F-15Cs will need to be replaced (assuming you need an F-15C-like capability) in the next 15 years, mostly due to structural fatigue, if you assume a fatigue life of 10,000 hours.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-15-life.htm
The recurring cost of the F-22 is 130 million (this doesn't include development costs, which are already sunk). F-15s go for about half as much (according to this article http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/101905_pork.html). Given that the F-22 is a more capable aircraft, it will not be replace F-15s on a 1-for-1 basis (in fact, only 180 are scheduled to be bought - I believe that the AF and reserves have around 500 F-15s tasked to Air Superiority, not including F-15Es).
Maybe the debate should be one of comparing the following alternatives:
1. Letting F-15s wear out, and retiring them without replacement.
2. Replacing F-15s with an AESA radar version, either on a 1-for-1 basis, or less than 1-for-1.
3. Purchasing F-22s to replace F-15s on a 1-for-3 or 4 basis.
4. Throw the F-35 in there to create an even more bewildering profusion of options.
Look, I'm not on the sharp end of the spear, so I have no business telling you guys what is the best option. I'd like to point out, though, that the "do nothing" option also generates either an expense (in the cost of buying replacement F-15s as the old ones hit their end-of-life), or a loss of capability (as these aircraft are retired without replacement - presumably, the F-35s are replacing F-16s).
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-15-life.htm
The recurring cost of the F-22 is 130 million (this doesn't include development costs, which are already sunk). F-15s go for about half as much (according to this article http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/101905_pork.html). Given that the F-22 is a more capable aircraft, it will not be replace F-15s on a 1-for-1 basis (in fact, only 180 are scheduled to be bought - I believe that the AF and reserves have around 500 F-15s tasked to Air Superiority, not including F-15Es).
Maybe the debate should be one of comparing the following alternatives:
1. Letting F-15s wear out, and retiring them without replacement.
2. Replacing F-15s with an AESA radar version, either on a 1-for-1 basis, or less than 1-for-1.
3. Purchasing F-22s to replace F-15s on a 1-for-3 or 4 basis.
4. Throw the F-35 in there to create an even more bewildering profusion of options.
Look, I'm not on the sharp end of the spear, so I have no business telling you guys what is the best option. I'd like to point out, though, that the "do nothing" option also generates either an expense (in the cost of buying replacement F-15s as the old ones hit their end-of-life), or a loss of capability (as these aircraft are retired without replacement - presumably, the F-35s are replacing F-16s).
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