Putting F-35 brains into the F-22 for Japan.
It's an obvious, but difficult, idea.
Something I'd propose to make it easier on Japan and thus easier for us to buy some too is to allow Boeing to bid on the production contract.
The F-22A assembly line is supposed to be archived and stored. Put it any place a manufacturer has space, even if it's Beechcraft, Piper or Cessna!
The resulting plane would be F-22B using the US designation series if they use it right (they often don't). A Japanese model of the F-22B would be F-22BJ.
They will probably call the Japanese version F-22J...
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/raptor-resurrected-what-will-it-take-restart-f-22-fighter-15862
ReplyDeleteAn older article but highlighting the issue that the mothballed production equipment and dies may not actually exist
Glad I said, "supposed to be" instead of "definitely"
DeleteIf the tooling is truly gone, then there's no reason for Lockmart to have a lock on the bid since they've no advantage over anyone else in getting a line going.
ReplyDeleteDesigning and creating production tooling is a core constituency that Boeing normally excels at.
If they have to recreate the line from scratch, Boeing should have a leg up over Lockmart. Especially considering that Lockmart's incompetence is probably why those containers are empty.
Hi Tag,
ReplyDeleteFunny that!!!! The F-22BJ Already the pervs have the acronem under control "BLOW JOB!!!' After all that is what a jet is... just ask any old Navy S2-F (STOOF') pilot.......
'Back when(1965-66) at "Hammond International!!" (Louisiana 70401) What we called the airport "In Jest' as it looked like the airport where "Pecos Parachute School" was runned by Truman Sparks in the Spielberg movie,"FANDANGO!!!" Frank was our "Jump Pilot" .. working to get the hours to "Break in" to the Airlines.... He finally got snagged by "Branniff!!" 'Got a "3rd seat" "Flight Engineer" slot and off to school!!! Came back a few months later on his way to his first Mission and we had a party!! Drank beer and heard his stories!! We were "All Ears!!!" Among others he talked about the "Distribution of Military vs Civilian Pilots" in the class and their different "Backgrounds!!" Said Frank,"There was this former AF F-5 Jock who would go on and on about how great that F-5 was!!!!!" The troops listened, a few chimed in but there was this old salty NAVY S2-F Pilot who never said "nothin'".. just sipped his Beer and waited..... then when the "5" jock was at the height of one of his stories, the S2 Pilot chimed in,"That may be all well and good, but I would like to remind you that '2 SCREWS ARE BETTER THAN 1 BLOWJOB ANYDAY!!!!!" The S2 pilot had everybody ROTFLTAO2x!!!!!!!
BLEW SKIES,
BLACK DEATH,
skybill....
PS This Story is "TRUE!!!" Frank has "Passed on" but my old friend Tony Michelli.. one of our Aviators from those daze is still with us and can verify!!