History, Politics And Current Affairs

So it seems that President Donald Trump wants the United States to develop a twin-engine version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which he has named the F-55.

https://www.twz.com/air/trump-wants-a-t ... ke-fighter

Oh good grief...

Pdf27 wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 10:02 amOh good grief...

Think we can close the thread now, you have said everything what need to be known.

I’m reminded of President JFK directing the USN to add some 5” guns to our missile cruisers.

Of course, JFK did have some cred in that

Now, politicians engaging in detailed technical requirements might sound odd

HOWEVER

That’s who authorizes programs and appropriates the money so……..

And the USN has generally preferred twin jets

(noting all the single engine props, A-4, and A-7, etc.)

Nightwatch2 wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 4:32 pmI’m reminded of President JFK directing the USN to add some 5” guns to our missile cruisers.

Of course, JFK did have some cred in that

Now, politicians engaging in detailed technical requirements might sound odd

HOWEVER

That’s who authorizes programs and appropriates the money so……..

And the USN has generally preferred twin jets

(noting all the single engine props, A-4, and A-7, etc.)

The naval equivalent is announcing that they're going to fit 10 Polaris tubes on a FRAM. It's technically possible, but the cheapest way is to lift up the nameplate and slide a new ship underneath. That's exactly the case here - you essentially need a new airframe to change the number of engines. Given that Boeing was just awarded the F-47, then you either need to award the F/A-XX to Lockheed Martin and pretend it's a twin-jet F-35 (cue legal action from Northrop Grumman) or invent a whole new programme which duplicates either F-47 or F/A-XX.

Pdf27 wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 8:22 pm

Nightwatch2 wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 4:32 pmI’m reminded of President JFK directing the USN to add some 5” guns to our missile cruisers.

Of course, JFK did have some cred in that

Now, politicians engaging in detailed technical requirements might sound odd

HOWEVER

That’s who authorizes programs and appropriates the money so……..

And the USN has generally preferred twin jets

(noting all the single engine props, A-4, and A-7, etc.)

The naval equivalent is announcing that they're going to fit 10 Polaris tubes on a FRAM. It's technically possible, but the cheapest way is to lift up the nameplate and slide a new ship underneath. That's exactly the case here - you essentially need a new airframe to change the number of engines. Given that Boeing was just awarded the F-47, then you either need to award the F/A-XX to Lockheed Martin and pretend it's a twin-jet F-35 (cue legal action from Northrop Grumman) or invent a whole new programme which duplicates either F-47 or F/A-XX.

Not the first time that has happened.

F-18C to F-18E comes to mind

"Range could be enhanced or reduced, depending on the design tweaks that would go along with such a configuration change."

ie, the author has put absolutely no thought into the article. What a waste of time.

just watched Mooch's video on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGWMQn4oOVw

during this the president's discussion of the;

F-35 upgrade (real program)

F-55 twin engine upgrade of the F-35

F-22 upgrade (real program)

add to this the already announced;

F-47 (real program)

F-15EX "Super Eagle" (real Program)

F-18E/F/G (real program)

and not to miss out, the impending Navy Advanced Fighter

That's seven, advanced fighter procurement programs. Six of these programs are already in various stages of progress with three producing new aircraft and several more doing modifications to existing aircraft.

The budget is about to crater. Mooch's thought was that the Navy will lose the next fighter program to make room for these other programs, not even counting the F-55.

This is not affordable. The President's budget request for the Defense department is due and this will be a very enlightening document.

to roughly quote some other colleagues from my Navy days, programs without budget are just fantasies. I suspect the twin engine F-55 will vanish into a study proposal.

Has someone pointed out that Dave-B actually <does> have two engines?

Never mind 'One Engine BAD, TWO Engines GOOD' for any layman-ish reason...

Could Trump have seen some of those snazzy photos of China's latest design for 'Gen#6' fighter, with dual engines, and simply gone, "Yah !! I WANT SOME OF THAT !!"

My thinking is someone mentioned the proposed three-stream/adaptive engine as a "second engine option" and he took it as an option for two engines.

Craiglxviii wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 8:21 am Has someone pointed out that Dave-B actually <does> have two engines?

Nope. A gear driven lift fan, not an engine

This is a good place as any. Trump's dabbling in fighter jet design just reached a new "high".

I’m not a huge believer in stealth, because stealth is basically a lot of it’s designed into shape. You know, I’m I’m sure you maybe think. But also if if that’s the case they’re gonna figure it out pretty fast I think. So you’re going to design an ugly plane for stealth reasons. And then 6 months later they’re gonna figure out this, and you’re stuck with a plane now.

He said that incoherent shit at a presser.

Just saying.

Can anybody say 'word salad'?