The U.S. Air Force has begun conducting structural stress
assessments on its existing fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft in an
effort to assess the feasibility of continuing to fly the jets for
an additional 10 years. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norman
Schwartz confirmed the action is underway as a hedge against the
possible delay in the delivery of over 1,700 F-35 JSF aircraft.
In a speech to the Air Force Association, Schwartz said "I think
it's pretty clear that our strategy is to pursue service-life
extensions [SLEPs] to the extent that is affordable rather than
purchase new generation four-and-a-half aircraft while we're
working hard to bring on F-35," said Schwartz. "I do not think it
is wise to dissipate the limited pool of resources available for
F-35 by procuring less capable aircraft that will last as long" as
the new generation fighters.
Defense News reports that some members of Congress think the Air
Force should procure what are called 4.5 generation fighters (the
JSF is considered a 5th generation fighter) to prevent what they
see as a "fighter gap" between the end of the service life of the
current fleet and the availability of the F-35's. Those in-between
aircraft would be planes like the F-15 SE Silent Eagle or the Block
60 F-16.
Schwartz insists that it would not be prudent to spend limited
procurement dollars on anything other than the 5th generation
fighters. The Air Force plans to retire as many as 250 of the
longest-serving F-15 and F-16 fighters, as well as a few A-10
Thunderbolts over the next five years for a cost savings of about
$3.5 billion.
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