US aircraft procurement is on obvious downwards spiral - huge increases in spending have resulted in equally huge decreases in procurement. Most numerous tactical aircraft in US service is still F-16, and is likely to remain so for next few decades. Here is solution.

1. Quick solution to USAF
downwards spiral
Saving USAF from itself

2. USAF - current
● 183 F-22A: 46 665 000 000 $ (95 s/d)
● 254 F-15C/D: 29 210 000 000 $ (290 s/d)
● 1245 F-16C/D: 87 150 000 000 $ (1494 s/d)
● 221 F-15E: 27 846 000 000 $ (221 s/d)
● 345 A-10: 6 900 000 000 $ (1150 s/d)
● TOTAL:
● 2 248 tactical aircraft for 197 221 000 000 $
● 3 250 sorties per day

3. USAF - current plan
● 183 F-22A: 46 665 000 000 $ (95 s/d)
● 2 443 F-35A: 489 650 490 000 $ (1585 s/d)
● 221 F-15E: 9 781 460 000 $ (221 s/d)
● TOTAL:
● 2 847 tactical aircraft for 546 096 950 000 $
● 1 901 sorties per day

4. How to solve this?
● possibilities:
– buy already existing aircraft abroad
– design new aircraft
● designing process must be under heavy
Government oversight, and with clear
goals, while leaving designers with
maximum freedom of work - fly before you
buy
– unlikely in current political climate
– takes time
– best long-term solution

5. Quick fix
● Restart production of old aircraft
– F-15 too large
– F-16A good with upgrades; F-16C
overweight
– A-10 and F-15E still capable
● Buy and produce foreign aircraft
– Gripen an optimal choice
● single engine
● low cost and maintenance requirements
● road and dirt-strip capable
– politically unacceptable

6. My proposal
● F-16A with PIRATE IRST and DRFM
jammer (“F-16G”) for AtA
– use SAAB's help to reduce maintenance
– 32 000 000 $ per aircraft; est. 1,8 - 2,18
SDA (sorties per day per aircraft) - round
to 2
● A-10 for CAS
– 20 000 000 $ per aircraft; 3,3333 SDA
● F-15K for ground attack / SEAD
– 100 000 000 $ per aircraft; 1 SDA

7. My proposal
● fighter force for 100 billion USD
– 3 125 F-16G; 6 250 sorties/day
● CAS force for 50 billion USD
– 2 500 A-10; 8 333 sorties/day
● ground attack force for 50 billion USD
– 500 F-15E; 500 sorties/day

8. Aircraft procured
Current
Current plan
My proposal
Air superiority Ground attack CAS

9. Sorties per day
Current
Current plan
My proposal
Air superiority Ground attack CAS

10. Comparision - total
Current
Current plan
My proposal
Tactical aircraft Cost Sorties per day

11. ● Picard578
● 16 February 2013
● http://defenseissues.wordpress.com/