I also think they should cut back on the F-22. JSF/F-35 will do most of what the Raptor can, for less money. What it falls short on, we can make up in numbers of other aircraft we do have. Not only that, but the JSF will have a large percentage of commonality between all it's variants, reducing maintenance cost, as opposed to the F-22 which all of its parts are unique to it.
Same thing happened with the C-130J program, lots of cutbacks. I don't know how many, if any, active duty squadrons got the C-130J. My last unit in the CA Guard, had all there planes replaced by J models. In fact, air guard units are the only ones I have seen with the C-130J. I haven't flown in over a year, so I don't know what has changed.
The Marine Corps has replaced it's active duty fleet with KC-130J's. Granted there are only 3 active duty squadrons. Don't know what the plans are for their 2 reserve squadrons, as they have newer KC-130T's built in the 80's, those were bought and paid for by the respective states they are located in.
Another program that has exceeded cost expectations is the MV-22 Osprey. I'm currently attached with VMMT-204 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron. I can tell you, the Osprey is here to stay, and is not going anywhere. In fact, we just had the last CH-46 squadron in the coast return from deployment, and getting ready to retire/decommission the squadron in preparation for transition to the MV-22. That's it, no more CH-46's in the east coast. West coast(Miramar/Camp Pendleton) is next.
I agree wish should maintain some sort of air superiority, but lets remember, the rest of our fleets are flying aircraft half a century old, and in some cases older!
Same thing happened with the C-130J program, lots of cutbacks. I don't know how many, if any, active duty squadrons got the C-130J. My last unit in the CA Guard, had all there planes replaced by J models. In fact, air guard units are the only ones I have seen with the C-130J. I haven't flown in over a year, so I don't know what has changed.
The Marine Corps has replaced it's active duty fleet with KC-130J's. Granted there are only 3 active duty squadrons. Don't know what the plans are for their 2 reserve squadrons, as they have newer KC-130T's built in the 80's, those were bought and paid for by the respective states they are located in.
Another program that has exceeded cost expectations is the MV-22 Osprey. I'm currently attached with VMMT-204 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron. I can tell you, the Osprey is here to stay, and is not going anywhere. In fact, we just had the last CH-46 squadron in the coast return from deployment, and getting ready to retire/decommission the squadron in preparation for transition to the MV-22. That's it, no more CH-46's in the east coast. West coast(Miramar/Camp Pendleton) is next.
I agree wish should maintain some sort of air superiority, but lets remember, the rest of our fleets are flying aircraft half a century old, and in some cases older!