Clark Griswold

Yeah I think as shitty as some of the decisions seem to the hoi polloi there are usually reasons why. Some good, some bad, some just odd but reasons why it went the way it did. Keeping the factories open and busy with Project A to enable Project B, valid. I think the money could have been found and still could, just would have to take some risk or do without something assuming no supplemental funding. I guess the other thing or one of several things about watch this UPT thrash is how it has it centered on acquiring the T-7 above all and that is primarily there to train for the fighter tracked guys, that’s about 15% of the pilots in the AF. Don't get me wrong, selecting strong swimmers for that career track and training them well before they go to the F-69 or other jet is very important but you have to not bend the whole enterprise around one thing to do. Other training systems (aircraft, sims, LVC, etc.) could have better trained the whole future force vs. a new, bespoke system geared toward an important but only one part of the line. Just my opinion.

Concur - that’s been one of the maddening parts watching this from the outside and seeing the machine do something completely at odds with their purported main goal, make more military pilots faster. Why bet the farm on something new, not in or ready for production when you could buy ready now? When your advanced trainer that you fly now is really ready to be retired, why buy the model that will take the longest to actually get on the line flying? I think it was earlier in this thread someone speculated the T-7 was selected to keep the St Louis based Boeing plant open to keep the door open for the F-15EX and more Superhornets if wanted. Probably was one of the real reasons they went with it, besides domestic supplier preference. I’m actually neutral on that because I see the 3D chess reasoning but again they should have aggressively hedged, argued for an interim solution available now and continued the T-7. Hindsight being 20/20, I would have gone with a mix, 50% training in general aviation aircraft available now flown by military instructors (IA-100 or Grob 120, KA 90) and 50% in a PC-21 or M-345. IFF bound and ENJPT guys would get wings first then go fly the remaining T-38s until the T-7 hit the line.

Lotta news lately The War ZoneGermany And Spain Launch ‘Team Gen 6’ After Europe’s Next...The emerging coalition could reshape Europe’s future fighter landscape, but it still needs political backing, lots of funding, and likely more partners. The emerging coalition could reshape Europe’s f

The War ZoneFour U-2S Spy Planes Would Be Restored In Bill That Would...Congress is also moving to again block the Air Force from retiring the entire U-2 fleet amid continued questions about capability gaps.

Boeing pulls out, sts The War ZoneBoeing Drops Out Of Navy's T-45 Jet Trainer Replacement C...The field of competitors to design and build the Navy's next jet trainer has narrowed to just two teams, and both are putting forward twin-engine designs.

Bump The War ZoneBoeing "Encouraged" By C-17 Production Restart DiscussionsCongress recently asked the USAF for a briefing on the feasibility of buying new C-17s amid major strain on the existing fleet.

Yup https://theaviationist.com/2026/01/21/poland-to-arm-fa-50pl-aim-9x/ Brits also did with their Red Arrow Hawks to give them an operational mission if called upon T-birds can also be made ready for combat ops in 72 hours per their webpage, I’m sure there is an asterisk by that statement but some pew pew could be had On to the idea of acquiring more lighter iron (-50s in this case), the operational case is like the Poles, Gap Filler fighter and Defensive Fighter. Bought in sufficient numbers to give mass and coverage for homeland defense, second line defenses for contingency/combat ops, theaters with limited threats, etc… A fleet of 150-200 is not unreasonable if we believe the late 20s and 30s are going to be as risky as we say they will be.

@ClearedHot Do you think the letter released above was a wag the dog tactic in reference to the Belfast attack and proximity to the Henry Nowak murder? It’s interesting reading the letter, the British establishment is still in denial about where they are now and the direction of travel of their country. It’s not good, ours is better than theirs still challenging with our own problems ahead but different. It’s important for them to be a credible and capable NATO partner but power and power in excess to be able to project it for whatever reason comes from security, stability and prosperity at home. Personally, I think they should take the prediction and analysis of Prof David Betz very seriously. https://www.militarystrategymagazine.com/article/civil-war-comes-to-the-west-part-ii-strategic-realities/

Not downplaying the threat of Russia but methinks they have other more pressing threats than a Russia tied up in Ukraine

True

Bump https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-fighters-legal-minimum-wake-up-call-pfluger/ We need more iron pronto, Poland figured out an interim solution, why not just cut n paste, operate until larger more capable iron is delivered then roll the gap fillers to other missions? Training, demo, chase, aggressor, homeland defense, etc… Hedges against tech risk with T-7, allows faster divestment of oldest teen series jets, significant but affordable buy allows presence and support missions for burden shifting, etc…

Probably so (as to the desire for more hardware except of the most exquisite types). Yeah, the digital tether is still gonna be there but… I would like to see at least research into an AI assisted, organic PED light capability, dedicated to small independent maneuver units, thinking remote austere missions in Africa and small isolated islands in INDOPACOM theater. Just a thought. The Wolfhound replacement is gonna be interesting, 20 aircraft, the tyranny of small fleets.

Cool, my knowledge/ops experience is probably a bit dated and my A-1K is all open sourced so that’s worth what you pay for it. I do know what you mean about manpower for PED from my previous work, the volume of data, looking for the diamond in the rough, enough said. My main advocacy for basically a NG Manned ISR platform acquired by AFSOC that has a bit more capacity (SWAPC plus PAX) is for the ANG mission, ANG units flying said new aircraft. MOOTW, Grey Zone, Consequence Management, etc. could all be met by a right size, right capes platform that also answers a T10 requirement. Probably in a right sized regional or light airlift turboprop.

Don’t know Bronder so I’ll just say your point is made. Other missions I see as those missions where more organic, on board cranium power is desirable. Agnostic stations on said platform, in an open system with operators doing the PED, C2, etc… there and directly supporting the customer while also feeding / interacting with the network of other users. Probably CASA 235, ATR 42 or bigger (maybe) but not C-130 size.

That will not buff out

It’s not my supposition, it’s Bronder’s words. I’m not opposed to the A-1K nor it being expanded to missions other than Armed Overwatch, I’m just saying that for some of those other missions another platform would be better & worth the effort. If the resources aren’t there make do with what you have then.

True but from the article “Just a reminder that OA-1K is not a replacement for U-28,” Col. Bronder also said again at this year’s SOF Week conference. “Certainly, it can do some ISR functions, but again, [it] meets a close air support strike requirement.” It’s the dedicated, allocated to that mission/role I’m commenting on. There still is IMO a requirement for a manned, medium persistence, multi effects, platform. Maybe not the appetite for it or prioritization for it, but it’s there.

Manned ISR at AFSOC looking at divestment with no direct replacement https://www.twz.com/air/any-plans-for-direct-u-28-draco-special-ops-surveillance-plane-replacement-abandoned Replace it with OA-1K and Scorpion, low end and high(er) end fights respectively.

https://www.dodig.mil/Components/Administrative-Investigations/DoD-Hotline/

It’s not, it would not be a 1 G pass at 250 KTS at 1000’ AGL over and over again.

Don’t have an EM diagram on the T-7 but googled it and thrust to weight is 1.41 and 0.91 burner and mil respectively with +8 g, that’s not the whole picture obviously but it would do fine, particularly in configurations for shows, demos. Clean wings, half fuel, maybe ballast in the right places, etc… I get your points and will take you at good faith, would the class of pilots be more diverse in career backgrounds yes but there would be no DEI, Affirmative Action, etc… to make the team you would have to be first a great pilot generally, a great T-7 pilot and a pilot who can make the grade thru training. Other competitive and selective career opportunities take or have taken pilots from all AF backgrounds: U-2, B-2, 89th, exchange programs, etc… this is not as risky / infeasible as might seem, just different than our current prdigm. The current mission statement (I would call it that) from their website https://www.airforce.com/thunderbirds/overview#:~:text=The%20Thunderbirds%20perform%20for%20people,aim%20to%20excite%20and%20inspire. The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. That’s cool but what I would propose is that in this total team, total force world to deliver air, space and cyber power, having a team pulled from all flying missions of the Air Force would be representative of the paradigm of the total force, coming together to accomplish the mission. Proposed new mission statement The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. Thunderbirds display the elite skills, dedication to perfection and unwavering teamwork all Air Force pilots are trained in and honed to the highest standards demonstrated in their performances. Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Force’s high performance training jet, the T-7 Red Hawk, which all Air Force pilots receive training in and the team is composed of members from all the flying backgrounds showing the total teamwork of the United States Air Force. If the show changes but is still impressive so be it. If pilots from fighter backgrounds are usually the opposing solos and skilled heavy drivers are better at other positions so be it. Just because it has always been some way doesn’t mean it should always be that way.

Sydney Sweeney in a one piece or bikini is still hot as hell

Agree to disagree, she’s sexy in the red, white and blue… But as to more of the why, because the T-7 for better or worse is the future or part of the future of the AIr Force. Changing the team to this type and expanding the applicant pool I think signifies a change in the USAF. Just my two cents. The horse is out of the barn so whatever deficiencies the -7 has like the -46 have are gonna have to be addressed, fixed, mitigated, etc…

The War ZoneChina’s “Bohai Sea Monster” Reappears With Apparent Weapo...New details add weight to the idea that the “Bohai Sea Monster” has a kinetic role to play, although the general concept could be supersized for other missions. New details add weight to the idea that

Yeah pardon my naivety but I figured with the geographic proximity to KRND that the schools in TX would be under the microscope That contract is about 83.5 mil a year, at $600 a day per man day that’s 381 man years of orders or 342 man year with a $25k per year bonus, add in the beanie of successful completion of X training sorties and Tricare for Life upon retirement if a an ARC member regardless of traditional or immediate retirement pay status and you would get takers The aircraft could be had quickly if wanted. You could even run this COA at an ARC base ala Project Liberty but that assumes the institution gives a fornication