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Aerospace / Re: Scaled Composites Model 401
« Last post by George Allegrezza on Today at 03:20:36 pm »Sweet!
Exactly. That's why I think the Zumwalt is the obvious choice. It's got the power, the speed, and is available today.
It may or may not have the power for today. It certainly doesn't have the power for a 35-50 yr ship. The US is building Ford class with a 100% margin for power. I don't see 100% margin for power with 'today's Zumwalt.
I'm not convinced Zumwalt can carry a Ford class reactor. So now one has to look at either another existing reactor that has enough power. Is there one? If not, then you have to develop a new reactor or make a bigger Zumwalt. Or - you can use an existing hull with an existing reactor.
The lost opportunity cost is dealing with two solutions, a conventionally powered Zumwalt and a nuclear powered Zumwalt. It's a waste of time, effort and training.
Ship design - X2
Ship production systems - X2
Ship building - X2
Training of the ship builders - X2
Efficiencies are driven by repetition. Look at the price management and schedule reduction with Virginia class. Want to drive the cost down on a cruiser? Build the same one over and over for 10 years. Then build it over and over for another 10 years. The extra production may assist in Ford cost management as well.
I've got nothing against Zumwalt. I'm just not convinced it has the power or size to be a 40-50 year solution as a BMD ship. You don't either since you propose a nuclear powered "flight ii".
You can't retrofit nuclear propulsion into hulls. You can retrofit just about anything else in a hull.
Perhaps I'm missing the obvious but I don't see the requirement for 30+ knots. It would be nice but it's not necessary. And speed is the only advantage I see with the Zumwalt hull. All the other advantages I see with a Level 3 San Antonio.
This might need it's own thread. . . .
Exclusive: Lockheed Martin to propose stealthy hybrid of F-22 and F-35 for Japan
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-defence-lockheed-exclusive/exclusive-lockheed-martin-to-propose-stealthy-hybrid-of-f-22-and-f-35-for-japan-sources-idUSKBN1HR0MM
LM Exec #1
PCA is going to be win of the 2020's. We have to make this happen. What can we do to better our chances of winning this deal?
LME #2
Hmmm. Let me talk this through out loud. If there's already a 80+% solution available... it's likely... that Congress will require it to be used to save on the development cost of a new jet. At the very least, the developer of such a jet will be favored in the selection process, right?
LME#1
So. Where are you going with this?
LME#2
What if we were to develop a new jet, say an air superiority version of the F-35 with a greater depth of magazine and longer range AND - here's the kicker - get someone else to pay for it?
LME#1
What? Who's going to do that?
LME #2
The Japanese!
LME #1 and #2
(Exclamations of realization and slapping each other on the back they exit stage right)
The problem with your hypothetical argument is that the F-35 cannot be made into an air superiority version with deeper magazines.... As good as it is at being a multirole fighter, its physically stuck with AT THE MOST 6 AAMs if Lockheed and the DoD ever make that happen.
This might need it's own thread. . . .
Exclusive: Lockheed Martin to propose stealthy hybrid of F-22 and F-35 for Japan
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-defence-lockheed-exclusive/exclusive-lockheed-martin-to-propose-stealthy-hybrid-of-f-22-and-f-35-for-japan-sources-idUSKBN1HR0MM
LM Exec #1
PCA is going to be win of the 2020's. We have to make this happen. What can we do to better our chances of winning this deal?
LME #2
Hmmm. Let me talk this through out loud. If there's already a 80+% solution available... it's likely... that Congress will require it to be used to save on the development cost of a new jet. At the very least, the developer of such a jet will be favored in the selection process, right?
LME#1
So. Where are you going with this?
LME#2
What if we were to develop a new jet, say an air superiority version of the F-35 with a greater depth of magazine and longer range AND - here's the kicker - get someone else to pay for it?
LME#1
What? Who's going to do that?
LME #2
The Japanese!
LME #1 and #2
(Exclamations of realization and slapping each other on the back they exit stage right)
This might need it's own thread. . . .
Exclusive: Lockheed Martin to propose stealthy hybrid of F-22 and F-35 for Japan
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-defence-lockheed-exclusive/exclusive-lockheed-martin-to-propose-stealthy-hybrid-of-f-22-and-f-35-for-japan-sources-idUSKBN1HR0MM
The US Assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell has threatened to use the Lockheed Martin F-35 programme as a retaliatory tool against Turkey if it goes ahead with its planned S-400 Triumpf purchase.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-diplomat-threatens-turkeys-f-35-role-in-s-400-sp-447859/
Good. If Turkey is going to get in bed with Russia we'd be insane to keep them in the program anyway.