"If you do not have stealth by the year 2022 to 2025 you will be irrelevant"
An interesting investigation has revealed some details about the future US Navy F/A-XX programme which aims to replace the multi-role fighter aircraft F/A-18 Hornet and its latest version F/A-18 Super Hornet.
The programme goal is to replace the entire US Navy cutting edge fleet with a 5th or even a 6th generation aircraft by 2030.
The US Navy has already issued a request for information (RFI), effectively starting the search for that successor.
But many doubts have been raised that the current US Navy's economic situation will not have sufficient funds for the programme in the fiscal year 2014 budget. Moreover, many controversies are related to the F-35C programme (the aircraft carrier version of the Lockheed Martin 5th generation fighter). In fact, it is to be noted that America never planned to buy this version, focusing only on the "A" and "B".
The US Navy explained that the F-35C would replace the earlier Boeing F/A-18A Hornets, but it does not have enough power and enough payload to replace the Super Hornet. This consideration also sparked some sharp comments.
"There is no expectation of additional funds for this effort. It is also in direct competition with the next generation bomber for the USAF and follow-on UAS platforms" the American DoD said.
Emerson Gardner, a former deputy director of the Pentagon's Office of Cost assessment and Program Evaluation, said the "It's not going to happen. There's not going to be any money there. The total cost of a new F/A-XX programme is estimated to be more than $40 billion and yield a maximum of 150 aircraft". In addition, according to Gardner, the absence of a stealth fighter would be dangerous for the US Navy. "That's very dangerous for the carrier because it makes the carrier irrelevant. They are not going to have first-day capability. I'm absolutely convinced that if you do not have stealth by the year 2022 to 2025 you will be irrelevant".
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