New life for the F-22

[YALE]

Because politicians are morons.

The Japanese were ready to jump on board. They just wanted the more advanced avionics to be made available if war broke out. In other words the avionics would be kept in the US (or a US base in Japan) and only installed with US approval. That would have given us the security we wanted for those advanced systems and given the Japanese a fighter capable of warding off a threat from the Chinese.

Instead the Japanese are now moving forward with their own stealth fighter, currently called the ADT-X.

However it should be said that the DoD is already working on the a 6th generation fighter. Boeing seems to be doing a lot of research on the technology needed. Speculation is that the Air Force wants both manned and unmanned versions. Where the pilot of the manned craft would command a squadron of UAVs.

So are we holding Japan to that whole post-WWII limitation of their self-defense forces, or are they wholly in control of their own military now? If we should sell arms to anyone in the pacific, we should sell them to Japan. They're perfectly placed to back up S. Korea, and Taiwan.

[Photonfanatic]

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Sgt Beavis]

So are we holding Japan to that whole post-WWII limitation of their self-defense forces, or are they wholly in control of their own military now? If we should sell arms to anyone in the pacific, we should sell them to Japan. They're perfectly placed to back up S. Korea, and Taiwan.

Japan has always been in control of its military since the US occupation ended in the 50's.

However their forces have always been designed for the tactical theater with defense in mind. The US handles strategic defense.

This was slowly starting to change as Japan wanted more say in strategic matters but they regressed with the current administration (the Liberals got in). However the current administration is an even bigger fuck up than ours and isn't expected so survive the next round of elections.

[helosailor]

This explains the JSDF pretty well...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces

Although they have expanded a little from the strict "protection of Japan" role, this still remains their primary focus and they have constitutional limits written in concerning the role and any possible expansion of their role.

[ALLAN]

[Gargamel]

On a related note, more troubles for the F-35...

Bring back the F-22!!!

[Sgt Beavis]

On a related note, more troubles for the F-35...

Bring back the F-22!!!

In fairness, that only applies to the vertical take off version, the F-35B. The F-35A and F-35C for the Air Force and Navy are proceeding along.

[ALLAN]

[Gargamel]

So in review...

The US no longer builds a 5th generation air dominance fighter....

Russia, India, and China do....

The US is STILL trying to produce a 5th generation exportable strike aircraft... for just a little less than the cost of the ADF
(because we chose not to have an export version of the ADF....)

I wonder what the cost comparison would have been if we were able to have an export version of the F-22?

I'm thinking the F-22, when all is said and done, would be the same cost or less expensive.... and its ALREADY developed....