Marines don’t want them (and A-10s aren’t carrier qualified).

The U.S.A.F.’s first (second) attempt at retiring the A-10 Warthogs to the boneyard, someone had an idea of re-manufacturing A-10’s into “Firehog’s” to carry water and fire suppressant to put out forest fires (it was a kooky idea, modding a cargo plane or a seaplane makes more sense). But I don’t see you idea…

And by semi-stealth I mean the Chengdu J-20 (comment section could use an edit button)

Look forward to it. Scary how China went from basically upgraded MiG-17’s in the 80’s and 90’t to SU-27 Flanker clones, J-15’s, and “semi”-stealth aircraft.

Can’t really argue with that. But don’t forget the ever growing deficit (again thanks to Congress) while China set’s back and waits for us to spend ourselves into a hole from which we can’t climb out (remember how the cold war was “won”)?

I know the financial climate is tight, but holy @#$%!!!! just build the U.C.A.V. already! Seems foolish to spend all this time, money, and effort on the X-47B only to let it collect dust in a hanger somewhere (or worse, have China make a cheap clone of the thing and start producing the in numbers)! Don’t think China…

Wonder whatever happened to Unmanned (or optionally manned) proposal for the AH-6? See

The EA-18 Growler has the benefits of sharing the same engines with the F-18EF's. Two less crew as VicVinegar noted as less maintenance as Skyfire77 pointed out. Growlers's won't have the range of the EA-6B's it replaces though.

Good article Tyler (stupid Viper vs Falcon/Fighting Falcon in the comments section notwithstanding). I've heard of the F-15 Eagle landing with a sizeable chunk of it's wing sheared off in a similar accident before. This is the first I've heard of an F-16 making it back to the runway with that type of damage.

Can't believe they're tying to use the C.O.D. mission to buy more MV-22 Osprey's. The best replacement for a C-2 Greyhound is a new C-2 Greyhound (with digital cockpit, new engines, 8 bladed propellers and other goodies ported over from the E-2D Hawkeye's)!

YES! Still have Microprose Fleet Defender in it's box. Royal pain trying to play that on a modern PC. An updated flight sim for the F-14 Tomcat is long overdue. Glad they included the "B" model. Hopefully they'll later come out with the F-14D and it's low light TV camera and Infra-red search and track, and all…

Agree 110%! I think this issue is being overblown (no offense intended to Mr. Rogoway). But as others have pointed out, parking the fuel trucks under tents or camouflage netting will solve this problem.

I suggest you look up the Nova episode "Battle of the X-Planes" (you should be able to stream it online). The X-32 was NOT the better design (F-35's seemingly never ending list of woes not withstanding). It was totally ill-equipped for STOVL, and for an carrier based "F-32C" it was going to need to change from a…

Dannnoaz,"The USAF would love the keep the A-10s, but won't shift money from a limited budget... to do it."

You can see a static display of an EA-6B Prowler at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, N.Y. and I believe there's one at the Cradle of Aviation museum as well. Here's a photo

Prowlers are being phased out (although the Marines will keep them a little longer). The Marines plan to use F-35B's in the Prowlers place at some point. but I don't think the U.S. can have enough airborne jammers.

Quote,"There has also been talk about the Avenger being outfitted with advanced jamming and electronic attack equipment. The idea is that it could position itself just inside enemy airspace and provide jamming coverage for infiltrating allied strike packages."

I'm rooting for the Northrop Grumman X-47B too (shame the U.S. most likely can't afford both however)!

The white device on their right hands it what they use to control the X-47B during taxing I believe.....