4 seconds of fire on our $gazillion F-35? And not for 4 more years because of software? - Granite Grok

4 seconds of fire on our $gazillion F-35? And not for 4 more years because of software?

F-35 Strike fighterThe question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.”            – President Barack Obama, Inauguration, 1/20/09

$1.5 Trillion PLUS and not only will its mini-gun not be ready for FOUR years:

“There will be no gun until [the Joint Strike Fighter’s Block] 3F [software], there is no software to support it now or for the next four-ish years,” said one Air Force official affiliated with the F-35 program. “Block 3F is slated for release in 2019, but who knows how much that will slip?”

OK, this thing has been in development a long time – one of the most complicated piece of machinery ever built.  Software plays a MAJOR role on this thing.  But this aircraft is slotted to not just an advanced air-to-air fighter but a multi-role one – including that of ground troop support.  Now, while the Eldest took care of the EA-4B electronic warfare jet for the Marines while in Iraq (at El Asad airbase where Obama has now sent some Special Forces “non-combatants”), the Youngest was on missions in Afghanistan where the Warthog  (A-10 Thunderbolt whose claim to fame is one big honking 30mm Gatling gun as it’s main ground troop mission weapon) was able to come in real close the protect him and his buddies.  They LOVE that bird – yet the top Commander Flyboys have wanted to kill it off forever because it is a low and slow craft – no fighter jet.  Originally a tank killer, it has become a favorite of those on the ground – and at 3,900 rounds / minute of depleted uranium rounds wiping out the bad guys.  The gun is so powerful, stories told, it feels like it is stopping the plane in mid-air but I digress.

So the F-35 is supposed to take over this ground support role.  So, once this gun goes operational, at the cost of millions upon millions, it will be able to shoot for all of:

 is designed to be internally mounted on the Air Force’s F-35A version of the aircraft and hold 182 roundsAt that rate, the F-35 would be out of ammunition in about four seconds, or one or two bursts of fire.

SERIOUSLY – 4 SECONDS?  This gun is part of the Marine variant for close in support – but seriously, 4 SECONDS of fire?  182 rounds (Navy variant will hold 220, the A-10 holds 1,174)- one has to ask the obvious:

was this included simply as more of a cover to mothball the A-10?

Really, 182 rounds?  Naw, this ain’t working.  In a lot of people’s estimation, the Warthog has turned out to be the most efficient ground support jet ever even with its age; if it fills that role wonderfully, who cares how old it is?  Ditto the B-52 – America’s most successful heavy bomber that has successfully filled a lot of roles for which it was never designed for.  Old, slow – and it works.  They should keep the F-35 for its main roles – this one was a shoehorn that doesn’t seem to fit at all.   (H/T: Defense Tech)

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