Britain considers £9bn JSF project pullout

[weasel1962]

Re:

Deleted

 

[Aussie Digger]

are you saying it can't carry a 2000lb bomb (which i didn't say)

or are you saying it can't carry 2000lbs worth of bombs (2x1000)?

The F-35B cannot carry 2000lbs class weapons internally, ie: Mk 84/BLU-109 series weapons and PGM derivatives of same.

It can indeed carry (AA-1 carried 5000lbs worth just the other day) more than 2000lbs of weapons (total weight) internally. The SIZE (length, width and depth) of the bay has more to do with the "weight" it can carry, than the aircraft's abilities...

 

[Carrierguru]

The F-35B cannot carry 2000lbs class weapons internally, ie: Mk 84/BLU-109 series weapons and PGM derivatives of same.

It can indeed carry (AA-1 carried 5000lbs worth just the other day) more than 2000lbs of weapons (total weight) internally. The SIZE (length, width and depth) of the bay has more to do with the "weight" it can carry, than the aircraft's abilities...

CVF and F35 will survive. Much will be threatened prior to the next election however, once the new team stops electioneering and starts reviewing our strategic needs and commitments, they'll realise that as well as politically, we are militaraly commmited to the US.

When it comes down to it, the US Gov't will bail the British out to keep the project allive. CVF is not only crucial to the UKs defense needs, it too is critical to the US and any ideas regarding integrating the EF onto CVF is in reality, a non starter. At present, the US carrier commitments are stretched to almost breaking point. The two CVF platforms and their F35 capability will represent a huge contribution to joint operations and effectively, result in the US having the option of two allied carriers for tasking, taking up the strain of the future carrier operational and maintenance schedules.

Cancelling the F35 would be a huge owngoal for the British, both militarily and politically. It'll also be a big slap in the face of most important military partner, damage our naval relationship, not to mention putting at risk the USMC's chance of a much needed F35B.

Future joint operations will win the day, far more than RAF centric needs. The loser in this will be the RAF and the EF. F35B will be the last manned fighter the RAF will ever own as the UAV generation matures, a worrying thought for the RAF..

A delay possible, but CVF and F35B will become a reality. Of more concern, is the delay in desisions reagarding Maritime Airborne Surv Aircraft..unless addressed, this could seriously compromise CVF/F35's potential...