F-35 in trouble

[David Floyd]

The F-15 production line wasn't going to be shut down if the Japanese weren't allowed to order some planes. The practical arguments for selling the F-22 to Japan are much stronger than those for selling the F-15 were, yet there are no signs that it will ever happen.

I'd argue that it isn't "practical" to sell something that you think will end up in, say, China's hands. It might be fiscally expedient, but hardly practical from a national security standpoint.

That's why we're not selling the F-22 to anyone. It's just too advanced to let anyone have it. The aircraft we already sell to our allies already outperforms any threat they are likely to face - hell, the F-15 as an air-to-air record of 104-0, and has shot down everything from a MiG-21 to a MiG-29, with quite a few other aircraft in between.

As for the Japanese Constitution question, I was pretty sure the 1% figure is an aspect of Article 9. Upon review, it isn't, so mea culpa. OTOH, I do know that Japan has consistently NOT spent above 1% of total GDP on the military, and that at least the reason for that is certain terminology in Article 9 (as well as regional political considerations). They do spend right up to the limit, and replacing the F-15 fleet with F-22s, to any significant degree, would certainly put that number up over 1%, given the higher up front cost and operating cost of the Raptor.

[Asher]

Can we talk more about how UAVs >>>> F-22 and F-35 now?

[BeBMan]

Only if those UAVs can fly air-air missions

[Lonestar]

Only if those UAVs can fly air-air missions

And not get jammed the **** while fighting a peer-competitor.

[Asher]

And not get jammed the **** while fighting a peer-competitor.

That's why you use AI.

Hell, build 300 UAVs for the cost of 1 F-22. I'd like to see the "peer" take that on, mother****er.

And before you tell me the AI is a bad approach, I guarantee you I could make an AI smarter than a person who joins the US military.

[BeBMan]

You want to have teh Skynet

[David Floyd]

Can we talk more about how UAVs >>>> F-22 and F-35 now?

Sure, if you can actually justify that statement.

Hell, build 300 UAVs for the cost of 1 F-22.

Build, perhaps. Operate for the same cost?

Besides the cost, we have to look at the training and pay for the remote operators, to start with. You claimed we could just use an AI, yet adequate AI technology doesn't yet exist. Then, you have to maintain the birds, and you also have to pay for the ordnance. Yes, 300 UAVs would be cheaper than 300 F-22s (although the research cost behind your AI idea would probably rival the research costs behind the F-22).

But, since we're just pulling numbers out of our asses here, if it came down to 100 F-22s or 300 UAVs, I'd take the F-22s any day.

[Asher]

You want to have teh Skynet

Skynet or US military aggression, the world is screwed either way. At least we'd go out in style.

[Asher]

Build, perhaps. Operate for the same cost?

Besides the cost, we have to look at the training and pay for the remote operators, to start with. You claimed we could just use an AI, yet adequate AI technology doesn't yet exist.

Does too! Have you never played Falcon 4.0?

We've got AI flying most commercial planes as it is. They even land planes more reliably than humans. We trust AI to land massive airplanes with 800 souls on board, but not to fly small ****box UAVs?

But, since we're just pulling numbers out of our asses here, if it came down to 100 F-22s or 300 UAVs, I'd take the F-22s any day.

Yes, that's nice dear. I'd take the 300 UAVs, because a UAV is better!

[Lonestar]

That's why you use AI.

Hell, build 300 UAVs for the cost of 1 F-22. I'd like to see the "peer" take that on, mother****er.

And before you tell me the AI is a bad approach, I guarantee you I could make an AI smarter than a person who joins the US military.

Increase use of UAVs also increase the temptation for bombing random ratholes.

Let's start with Alberta.

[David Floyd]

Either you're stupid or you're trolling. If you're stupid, it's pointless to argue. If you're trolling, arguing just makes it worse.

So I'm done with ya.

[Asher]

Increase use of UAVs also increase the temptation for bombing random ratholes.

Let's start with Alberta.

This is what I talk about when I question the intelligence of people in the US military.

You'd bomb your #1 oil supply?

We need AI planes and AI soldiers and certainly AI sailors. How smart do you need to be to swab the deck and pork the XO?

[Asher]

Either you're stupid or you're trolling. If you're stupid, it's pointless to argue. If you're trolling, arguing just makes it worse.

So I'm done with ya.

It must be so easy to simply ignore opinions contrary to yours.

[Lonestar]

This is what I talk about when I question the intelligence of people in the US military.

You'd bomb your #1 oil supply?

Sure. I'm pretty spiteful.

We need AI planes and AI soldiers and certainly AI sailors. How smart do you need to be to swab the deck and pork the XO?

Dunno, I didn't do either. How smart do you need to be to go to DeVry and become a codemonkey?

[Asher]

Sure. I'm pretty spiteful.

Dunno, I didn't do either. How smart do you need to be to go to DeVry and become a codemonkey?

You don't.

The US Navy is one of the top employers of DeVry graduates: http://www.devry.edu/assets/pdf/care...statistics.pdf