The U.S. Air Force’s chief of staff wants the service to develop an affordable, lightweight fighter to replace hundreds of aging F-16s and complement a small fleet of sophisticated F-35 stealth fighters. But an affordable, lightweight fighter is exactly what the F-35 was first conceived to be.
deleted by creator
deleted by creator
It's beautiful. They merced the A-10 for something that makes an Apache look like a durable fast-mover.
The A-10 only has the reputation it does because it happened to be absolutely perfect for the role it found itself in in Iraq and Afghanistan: flying at low speed and low altitude massacring unsupported infantry/literally just civilians who may or may not even have guns, with no AA capability.
From the perspective of natsec strategy ghouls, they needed some hi-tech new toys that could hypothetical deal with modern AA solutions or air superiority fighters. Unfortunately for them, from the perspective of natsec ghouls who are looking forward to cushy private sector jobs, they instead opted to pour an endless torrent of money with no strings attached into lockheed martin's bank account instead, and got something that's incapable of dealing with modern AA or fighters and that can't provide serviceable air support against unsupported light infantry as a result.
It's a beautiful intersection of imperialist hegemony and capitalism: they want a new toy to maintain their empire, Capital wants to devour as much money as possible while giving the least in return, and so Capital undermines its own interests by grifting its pet hegemon so hard that it becomes less able to violently enforce Capital's interests.
Well on our way to making a c/credibledefence, that's cool.
Good write up
deleted by creator
deleted by creator
deleted by creator
When they build the next generation of guillotines...