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F-18 Advanced Super Hornet
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This group is open to everyone who likes any kind of aircraft
Boeing is nipping at Lockheed's heels with this thing. Navy wants more Advanced Hornets rather then the F-35C.
Good ol' F-18 > Bad, new, overhyped F-35, F-22
F-22 ain't bad. Just underwhelming in its role. It's a good airframe, and great things could be done with it, but it deservedly got its plugged pulled for costing to much... Which then lead to Lockheed introducing the F-35. Which is a joke. So why did Washington kill the F-22 again?
Boeing won't stand a chance against Lockheed's lobbying. Watch this space.
Because Obama had to try and appeal to both Republicans and Democrats. While the Blue Dogs were trying to establish themselves as "Fiscal conservatives".
Which was rather misguided in retrospect as the common knowledge of DC is stupidity for those who live slightly North. Trying to appease both sides doesn't work here.
One F-35B or C costs even more then a a single F-22 now! And the Navy version has a larger wing span then the other two. Meaning the better version won't be adopted if the USN decides to skip the F-35. Their already test launching drones as Wingmen for their F-18s. IE: The UCLASS.
As for the USAF and Marines well their screwed and don't have much of a choice unless they do something Yesterday.
Unlike the Navy, their jets are well rather old and in worse shape. As the Navy has newer planes then the other branches. USN was able to buy new planes after the last F-22 went off the production line. Maybe Lockheed should have made a carrier based Raptor or something.
Programs like the F-18 Advanced, and F-15 Silent are fantastic. Upgrading perfectly good airframes is where it's at.
Oh and boom: Reuters.com Surprise surprise.
Lockheed don't care any more. They're in abandon ship phase it would seem, trying to make as much money as possible before the US DoD budget collapses.