POSITION PAPER ON WHY THE UNITED STATES SHOULD ACCEPT FULL PROCUREMENT OF THE F-35 1. This position paper discusses why the United States (US) should accept full procurement of the F-35 aircraft. It discusses the pros of the F-35, cons of the F-35, and further supports the pros. 2. The F-35 Lightening II has the potential to become one of the most versatile aircraft in the Air Force’s arsenal. It is one of only two fifth generation aircraft, designed to replace an array of ageing aircraft, to include, the A-10 Thunderbolt, the F-16 Falcon, the F/A 18 Hornet, and AV-8b Harrier. To be able to replace this long list of aircraft, the F-35 was designed with some of the most advanced sensors and sophisticated weapons systems, giving the aircraft 360 degrees of situational awareness. When asked about the survivability of the aircraft in air to air combat, Air Force Chief General Mark Welsh stated, “(the enemy …show more content…
One of the major down falls to the F-35 is the financial cost. In a time when budgets are extremely tight, the Department of Defense (DOD) is starring at a 391.2 billion dollar bill for 2,443 aircraft. That calculates to be around $160 million per aircraft. In addition to the staggering cost of the project, the F-35 has come across some very significant production issues. These issues range from simple wingtip lighting issues, to major issues, such as structural stress fractures and engine failures. While the F-35 has been touted to replace most aging aircraft, some believe that it will not be able to perform all of the functions needed for superior Close Air Support (CAS) mission. This argument has been backed up by the fact that the F-35 will rely on the utilization of Precision Guided Missiles (PGMs), a “danger close” range of 200 meters, while the A-10’s gun provides for a “danger close” range of 90 meters, figures that can have a significant impact on how close a weapons system can be employed while minimizing the chances of friendly fire
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
The Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) is a network of select aircraft from several commercial airlines that are all committed in various amounts to the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide airlift resources when the capability of U.S. military aircraft is exceeded. This system is designed so that these carriers can provide military cargo movement and troop transportation to anywhere in the world on short notice in the event of a military conflict. In order for airlines to join the CRAF, they must commit at least 30 percent of their long-range passenger fleet and 15 percent of their long-range cargo planes (Fact Sheet, 2004). These aircraft must also be U.S. registered, capable of over water operations, and have at least four complete crews assigned for each aircraft (Fact Sheet, 2004). Airlines that participate in CRAF have provided vital support to our military since the Korean War (Graham, David, 2003). The Persian Gulf War was the first official activation of the CRAF, where two thirds of the troops and one quarter of the air cargo was moved by commercial airplanes (Graham, 2003). Though not officially activated, the CRAF is currently supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing nearly double the amount of aircraft that the DoD has estimated for its most demanding war strategies. This paper will provide a brief explanation of the purpose of the CRAF, its history, the effectiveness of the program, and a quick look towards the future of the CRAF.
POSITION PAPER ON THE AIR FORCE DISBANDING INTO A SEPARATE AIR FORCE AND SPACE FORCE 1. What is the difference between a. and a. This Position Paper is on the idea that the Air Force should disband into a separate Air Force and Space Force. This paper will go over three things: the pros and cons of doing this, and it will back up the notion that it is a good idea after all to disband into separate entities. 2.
...ferent aircraft in teams. Together, it is very hard to detect, deny, and destroy these fighters. Maybe there should be an equal investment across multiple platforms so that the threat the U.S. possess is less likely to be contested when conducting operations.
The P-51 Mustang is regarded by many sources as the greatest fighter plane ever created. With the technological advancements this plane achieved, to it’s service record, to it’s importance in winning World War Two, the Mustang is truly one of the greats. The Mustang played a key role in long range bomber support and saved countless bomber crew’s lives, and pilots loved to fly it. The P-51 had the most aerial victories of any American fighter in World War Two and it was flown by some of America’s top aces. The P-51 was a beast of a fighter plane
PRECISION ENGAGEMENT provides NORAD the capability to precisely engage threats throughout the full range of our surveillance coverage to ensure off-shore threat engagement well before air and space weapons threaten Canadian or American citizens. This requires agile platforms with lethal munitions to enage targets more responsively and accurately from longer distances and precise, immediate operational assessments with the agility to re-engage if required. The system will include a flexible, near real-time targeting architecture, including space-based wide area surveillance, rapid identification, tracking, and near real-time sensor to shooter links.
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber is an American “heavy penetrating strategic bomber” that assimilates stealth technology into its design. It was developed to penetrate anti-aircraft defenses. The Stealth Bomber is able to deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions, and is the only aircraft recognized to carry large “air-to-surface standoff weapons” in a stealth configuration [1]. The B-2 Spirit is representative of an enormous leap forward in technology as colossal firepower, delivered anywhere on Earth, to formerly impermeable defenses [2]. Besides being an awesome feat of engineering, the Stealth Bomber has had a huge impact on many other areas, including: life in general, technological need, societal, political, and business systems developed alongside the Stealth Bomber, and on Arizona.
To begin the eleventh chapter of “Beam Weapons,” author Jeff Hecht describes the Missile Defense concept and its problems. One of the programs, the Safeguard System, is massive causing it to be vulnerable and at points, useless because of the difficulties with the system and defending itself against ballistic missiles. Hecht discusses Low Altitude Defense System- use to defend silos containing MX missiles- and Space Based Defense System- use to defend cities against nuclear warheads. He analyzes the Space Laser Triad and the controversy the Space Laser Triad caused in the House Armed Service Committee, the Senate and within the Pentagon. The Space Laser Triad includes the “Talon Gold”- (insert), Alpha- (insert), and LODE (Large Optics Demonstration
The future of the aerospace industry will involve gradual changes in the near term, with the prospect of more radical shifts in the decades t...
8.5 - Closing Arguments in Maher vs Sony Pictures Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury. Thank you all for your attention in this subject matter and for joining us on this grueling three week journey. The question proposed to our client John Maher reads: “A religious conflict in the Seventeenth Century,” to which John replied: “What is the Thirty Years War?” Mr. Maher was completely justified in categorizing the Thirty Years' War as a religious conflict of the Seventeenth Century. However, Mr. Maher fell victim to Sony Pictures's lack of historical knowledge, thus robbing him of his well deserved $250,000 cash prize, an exorbitant amount of money.
However, it is evident that the implementation of these specialized aviation units has enabled Delta Force to execute its missions with much more accuracy. America’s ability to reach out and touch someone has come a long way since the failed mission of Operation Eagle Claw. Ignoring the political side of things, it is very comforting to know that such a precision instrument exists. “You guys are the meanest and ugliest fuckers I’ve met in my life. But I love you. You guys saved my life and I’m eternally, eternally grateful…So long, guys.” (Kurt Muse)
The United States of America is a powerful and well known force throughout the world. It has become a superpower of nations in just about three hundred years, being one of the newest nations in existence today. Its military reaches out into several countries in the globe and holds a presence as a peacekeeper and wielder of democracy. Of the US military’s five branches, the Air Force is the ruler of the skies, keeping control of the earth’s aerospace. Without the Air Force Special Operations, the military could not complete operations as effectively or efficiently as it potentially could. The United States Air Force is a key part of America’s mission to spread and assist democracy throughout the world.
In recent years critics have condemned the military’s research into new weapon technology, saying it only leads to death and war. However, the benefits and security from the research far out weigh the drawbacks.
One of the latest and most controversial topics that has risen over the past five to ten years is whether or not drones should be used as a means of war, surveillance, and delivery systems. Common misconceptions usually lead to people’s opposition to the use of drones; which is the reason it is important for people to know the facts about how and why they are used. Wartime capabilities will provide for less casualties and more effective strikes. New delivery and surveillance systems in Africa, the United Air Emirates and the United States will cut costs and increase efficiency across the board. Rules and regulations on drones may be difficult to enforce, but will not be impossible to achieve. The use of drones as weapons of war and delivery and surveillance systems should not be dismissed because many people do not realize the real capabilities of drones and how they can be used to better the world through efficient air strikes, faster delivery times, and useful surveillance.
Tice, Brian P. (1991). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – The Force Multiplier of the 1990s. Airpower Journal.