Fighter Aircraft Generations: A Reference...

a reply to: JMH61

You got that extra 100 billion dollars you were telling me about? Gonna need it.

a reply to: Bfirez

You think people are flipping out over the cost of the F-35.....

a reply to: Zaphod58

And the F35 is still in LRIP... Granted it does get cheaper the more you produce.

Gotta pay to play. Breakthroughs in aerospace and aviation tech don't come cheap. The problem with the F-35 program was how naive its original planners were in the 1990s. They gravely underestimated the technical challenges involved in making 'one' air frame that can do it all. Another item in the program thoroughly downplayed was the writing of the software to control all of the jet's sensors/displays and avionic systems, particularly tying them all together, in so-called sensor fusion. With all that said, when they finally do have a version of block 3F code running stably, the jet will bring transformational capabilities to the battle field.

100 billion dollars? Try maybe 2 times that if sufficient numbers are pursued and the military branches, Air Force and Navy, pursue all-out tech.

a reply to: JMH61

I initially was gonna put 1 trillion, the way things are going that estimate wont be crazy by gen. 7

a reply to: Bfirez

Inflation and increasingly complex systems

Northrop Grumman's Idea Of A Sixth-Generation Fighter

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amazing descriptions and details thank you!

a reply to: JMH61

I like that the pilot is waving. It's like he's saying "hey, I'm still here, they haven't replaced me with a robot yet!".