Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron von Kriterium
The Forbes article states that the USAF's Top Dog doesn't want to buy any more F16s; it's too difficult to upgrade their software. The last time the USAF bought an F16 was 2001. So, e wants a new fighter, designed from the ground up. Unfortunately, that's the approach they took 20 years ago with the F35 and here they are.
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I don't know that I buy that rationale - I have to imagine that it'd be far more costly in dollars and time to do a clean sheet fighter than to update software in an F-16 going forward. Heck, this Air Force article (admittedly biased) talks about the success they had in adding AESA capabilities and 42 other major enhancements. Doesn't sound anywhere like the trainwreck that ALIS is.
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Besides - that article talks about a operational gap coming in 2025 due to a lack of engines for the F-35. Nothing clean sheet is going to get done in 4 years...not even close.