Democrats seek more funds for F/A-18 fighter
As the House Appropriations Committee prepares to mark up the 2007 emergency war supplemental, defense appropriations committee staff members are proposing the inclusion of $192 million for three additional F/A-18 fighter aircraft to replace combat losses.
Defense appropriations staffers also increased funds by $51 million above the Navy
Lex,
Yeah…. amazing that…
They can’t find the money to reopen the P-3 production lines, which are all ready to go to replace an aging fleet, but they can find a gazzilion dollars to research a 737-based replacement, as well as some additional F-18’s…
And the F-18’s are fine. mind you, not complaining about that part.
They have also retired the S-3 platform with no replacement in sight either……
Respects,
So this would be to show they support the war.
No, sorry, I mean the troops…..they support the troops.
Or was that……….oh forget it, no wonder I’m confused. Always knew your Americans were nuts.
Michelle, ma belle,
Come on down to Maine. We can share some beer and donuts and conspire to form a new nation from the Maritimes and New England…. or not….
Respects,
Um, $192 mil? New Hornets cost over $63m per?
For that matter, which version birds were lost, and were they already scheduled to be replaced by E/F version birds?
However, by this they cut EA-18G purchases from 6 to 1.
Who represents St Louis and El Segundo? Betcha they have a D next to their names
Lex,
You don’t worry when things like this make no sense, you only worry when they do make sense. This was something pointed out by Albert Einstein. I knew 3 of his students. When he wanted one of his students to be brought in to an inner circle, he would test the person with a riddle. If he were going to test me, one of my favorites was this one. He would say to me, “Grumpy, are you smart enough to be dumb or dumb enough to be smart?” My answer to the riddle was a simple, “Yeah, it’s all in the timing. Yeah, to both in balance. This is what life is really about!” In my view, this is the very same thing Lex is saying. Yes, it drives all of these smart people right up a wall.
Grumpy
I’m sorry, I’m still having difficulty understanding the 2.2 billion for “tactical” trucks. I understand trucks, having driven quite a few in my time. I understand the difference between tactics and strategy. I’m just unable to equate hauling freight in a tactical manner requiring 2.2 billion dollars that, supposedly, makes it better than hauling freight in a strategic manner using the same vehicles.
Tactical. That’s a word, in these modern times, that immediately pegs my BS meter.
– Max
Interesting to see how they slot the RAAF ones in if the USN is after them, although IIRC there was talk of speeding production to ensure the RAAF and USN ones were as similar as possible.
Max-
I this context I’d imagine ‘tactical’ to mean not too big, and able to survive being blown up.
Actually come to think of it 2 billion for trucks for Iraq has to be MRAP(The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected program).
The US DoD is pretty much buying a few of everything, IIRC half a dozen different types so far. Final buy will be north of 4000.
So not much hauling freight, except the warm and vertical kind.
Cap’n,
Does the extra $$ mean more flight time as well?
I must agree with Tim and Michelle, it seems that forces needed in the Littoral/Shallow Water Zone are taking it in the shorts. China is moving along with development of newer submarines and the likely next hot spots may be the China Sea and Korean Peninsula. The Marines need the V-22 and LCAC variants. P-3s are a known quantity that would certainly support activities in the upcoming kerfuffle.
“…form a new nation from the Maritimes and New England…”
Michelle and AW1 Tim – count me in from southern New England, originally from middle New England, with ties to northern New England. I’m there – bells on and everything.
I’ll even supply the donuts – and muffins, can we have muffins?
Seems that it would be a good investment to share long term acquisition monies on this class of aircraft:
http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/S.20070222.Stealthy_Mobility_/S.20070222.Stealthy_Mobility_.pdf
Looking at the A2/AD threats down the road, having carrier capable aircraft of this “genre”, could be a vitally important.
Tactical truck = up-armored HMMWV
Max,
http://web.mac.com/philip.ryan/iWeb/Photos/Dec%2005%20Photos.html
If you look at the photo named “New type up armored truck” You’ll see what kind of stuff they’re likely referring to. Also the HMMWV is technically a truck, and the new up armors are kind of pricey…
?
“…form a new nation from the Maritimes and New England…”
Michelle, AW1 Tim and Kris, I’d like a permanent visitor’s pass to your new nation, and I’d bribe the necessary officials with baked goods!
I’m not that far south, but to include me would possibly force inclusion of some others probably not as welcome
Although…there’s some in New England you might want to throw out…!
I’ve always said, If I ran the world….wholly different things would be all screwed up!
At least if I ever get my own country, I’ll know where to go for expertise to run my air and sea forces!
doorkeeper
These comments….wow…
Say bye-bye to the P-3, fellers. Ain’t no Orion line ever gonna open again. It ain’t my idea but you better get used to MMA and BAMS like I have with Hornettes. Your P-3 leaders kept saying yes to any committment in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s and kept deferring depot maintenance, hence the no going back fatigue problems.
re those supplemental Hornettes: All I can say is the USMC better appreciate these Hornets more than the ones they have been trashing at a 2 to 1 ratio over Navy flown Hornets…Did I say that? Just kidding.
b2
I’m suprised it’s referred to as a tactical truck rather than a model designation, or the generic Truck, 8-ton, Mk 1 mod 3. Either way, it’s a given that they’re required and as budget items go the dollars spent on armor tend to pay a lot of dividends elsewhere.
Max
My apologies, but having no other way to correspond……. I am working on that healthcare post for TFD. It’s just not that easy to pound out since I want to respond to some of what you said and also make some other points. Without writing a treatise. But I want you to know that I haven’t forgotten about it. Don’t know what else to say, hope you’re reading at TFD but in case not, I guess I will just have to haphazardly drop a line into a comment box over here when I post it over there.
Unless, of course, our good friend, Lex, would be willing to get us together somehow. But something tells me that he probably doesn’t want to start running that kind of service
PS Lex, would you put the preview function back on? Purty please…..
B2,
I understand exactly where you are coming from. I spent many a lifetime on those extended ops, exchanging years of old age for commander’s respects and MUC’s, NUCs, PUCs, and FUC’s…..
And yet, Lockheed is bust rewinging P-3’s for various overseas clients. They have an excellent upgrade and refit program in place for our allies. How many rewinged P-3’s could we deply for what we have wasted on the MMA program?
The P-3 is a proven performer, and one we need today. Not some souped-up overhyped jet that hasn’t flown a single operational mission to date.
As to the S-3 replacement? Well, I hope that the folks in charge of NOT provinding an itermediate range ASW airborne asset get hauled out and shot when we lose a carrier. And you know that it will happen…..losing a carrier, that is.
We’ve become a 3rd world ASW Navy, and we’d be lucky to last long enough to sue for peace if the balloon went up between us a China in the next 20 years.
That’s NOT a slight against our sailors or our seamanship. It’s a cold hard look at what the Chinese are doing and what we are losing.
Respects, as always,
Michelle, there’s an old saying in Arabia that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Likewise, I’m of the opinion that a friend of Lex’s is a friend of mine. We may not be in agreement on a lot of things, we may not even be capable of abiding each other in close company, but one thing that can be said about a regular poster here is that they are of discriminating taste and discretionary comments, by which I mean any conversation will be honest, forthright, and true, and if our views do not meet then we shall have left this day well-met.
Lex? I hereby give you leave to send Michelle my e-mail address. The VA situation cries for a discussion on the Flight Deck and the chances of something good resulting far outweigh any reservations my case officer in the Witness Protection Program might have about my cover story.
Seriously, pass it on and do so with my blessing. And Michelle? My thanks and compliments for not just discarding the issue. It would have been easier to do, but you’ve chosen a fight and I shall do my best to give you one. I only hope you can find me a worthy adversary, and I know we will find each other well-met on this field.
– Max
Max,
I feel much the same way. i might have some strong feelings here and there, but as far as I am concerned, it’s all between family. That’s got to take priority to anything else. I might disagree with someone, but I’ll always share my last glass of whiskey with them. It’s what family does.
And you know what? Just look at the discussions here. Strong but civil. Something that’s missing in oh so many public venues.
I value this place. It’s like a second home to me. Sometimes I post a lot, sometimes not at all, but i recognise the monikers, and i know they are all my brothers and sisters.
Respects,
Just a short one. Do you ever get the feeling the whole military/veterans community feels the same way, about your original question? Grumpy
A new nation in New England? Heh! We already did that a bit further South! And kept the rum too!
http://www.conchrepublic.com/history.htm
Best surrender party on the planet! I woke up in Bimini and have no clue to this day how I got there! I woke up on the jukebox in Crazy Greg’s End of the World Saloon. A mind is a terrible thing to have wasted!
Long Live The Conch Republic!
Funny. Cape Breton has a long history of wanting/trying to secede too. From Nova Scotia and from Canada. Won’t be looking for no links tonight though.
I’m an honourary Cape Bretoner, I figure. Lived there for 3 years and my other half is from CB which makes my kids at least hybreds. So …… perhaps a trip to the island, a bit of help from an explosives expert and we’ll be off to sea. Sailing south. Was kind of hoping maybe we could get some help from the US Navy but I guess it all depends on who you know……..
Michelle? I know life is busy, but I’ve seen nothing on the Flight Deck. I assume you’ve not had time, a situation I am familiar with. Please do me the courtesy of being blatant with the headline so I might find the proper argument. Oh, and slap Lex around a little so he can recall my agreement above. It does him well to get feedback from the masses.
– Max