"Ed Rasimus" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 17:36:33 +0100, ess (phil
hunt) wrote:


An air superiority system needs high thrust/weight ratio, high
manueverability, reasonable range, short response time etc. It also
needs a sensor suite that can find, sort and allocate weapons to the
enemy. Ideally it should have longer reach than the enemy platform and
possess sufficient stealth to allow first-look/first-shot.

The sensor suite for US operations is increasingly space based with Global
capability. A reliable airborn weapons platform with data link capability
is what is needed. The USAF airplane procurement cycle is too slow and
bogged down with politics to produce tech advantages in individual manned
airborn equipments. The expendature of $60 billion for space based sensor
systems as part of the missile defense (ABM) is the required direction for
Pentagon systems and the fighter mafia will only miss the boat again in
ignoring the facts. The F-22 being a prime example of USAF not adjusting to
USAF requirements in acquisition. Military tech no longer exists in a
vacuum.