The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter did not pass the confrontation in aerial combat with the older F-15, during US military exercises in Nevada. The comparison between Lockheed Martin's F-35 and Boeing's F-15EX is not only fought in the skies but is also poured into and around the Congress, which is considering revising the 2020 budget request of the Pentagon. Tens of billions of dollars to be won over the next decade. This week, Pentagon officials, for the first time since the 2001, proposed to buy new F-15. For nearly two decades, air force officials have been debating whether to buy fourth-generation aircraft, preferring more powerful fifth-generation aircraft with the latest technology.
The proposed purchase of the F-15s is, however, modest. Eight jets in 2020 and a total of 80 by 2024. The Pentagon wants to buy 78 F-35s in 2020, 48 of which will go to the Air Force. But documents referring to the Pentagon's budget indicate, instead, that the Air Force could purchase hundreds of F-15s in the next decade. It is estimated that at least 144 aircraft are needed to change the old Cold War-era 'F-15C Eagles designed for air-to-air combat. Lockheed Martin reacted to the news with a "white paper”Of three pages describing in detail the“ decisive margin for improvement of the F-35 ”compared to fourth generation aircraft.
Defense One reviewed the white paper
The arguments of Lockheed Martin focus on the cost of the F-35 (the most painful point of the acquisition of the aircraft by the governments that have foreseen the acquisition). the F-35 will cost less than or equal to the F-15, and operating costs will be lower than the F-15s within six years. In addition, the F-35 can perform different missions, compared to the operational limit of the F-15.
Boeing did not remain silent. The F-35 has never been designed to replace the F-15C in air-to-air combat, but the F-15EX could do so by increasing the operational capabilities of the US Air Force flight groups. The pilots would not need further training to pilot the jet, which could carry heavy loads of weapons. Even the current F-15 Eagle bases should not make major infrastructure upgrades.
Then the new F-15EX is multi-role, similar to the F-15E Strike Eagle; that is, it could hit targets in the air, on the ground or at sea.
Boeing offers the new F-15s to the American Air Force in the same version it builds for Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The idea is welcomed by part of the Air Force, but opposed by the main leaders of the American Air Force. On February 28, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said F-15s are not included in the Air Force budget plans.
However, a senior defense official said that the analysis of costs and operational efficiency by the Joint Staff and the Pentagon led officials to recommend the purchase of the F-15EX.
Elaine McCusker, the Pentagon's deputy budget manager, said former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had decided to include the F-15EX in the Defense Department's budget.
Il Lieutenant General Ierardi, director of the force structure, resources and evaluation of the Joint Staff said: "The F-35 remains an "essential" program but we need to look to the future and the capabilities we need. The F-15EX provides additional capability and readiness, especially in the coming years in light of the potential threats and the type of combat to be waged".
In February, five Republican senators - with ties to Lockheed Martin - sent a letter to President Trump intending to oppose the F-15EX: "We are extremely concerned that the Defense Department has underestimated the F-35 program in recent years and relied on Congress to finance increased production. In order to meet the higher objectives of the National Security Strategy, the Department of Defense must honor the investments in the F-35 in order to better manage the fleet of fifth generation fighters. The F-35 is the most credible and deadly fighter for air domination, now it's time to double the schedule".
The 2020 budget request includes 11,2 billions of dollars to buy 78 F-35. Those funds also serve to improve already built jets. Lawmakers regularly funded F-35 at the request of the Pentagon. For example, last year they added 16 aircraft to the 77 requested by the Department of Defense.
Also for 2020, the defense budget includes $ 1,1 billion for the eight F-15EXs.
Bloomberg reported that the eight F-15EXs would enter the defense budget and also wrote that Marillyn Hewson, CEO of Lockheed, would confirm, according to Pentagon indications, that the F-15 purchases would not come at the expense of the F -35.
The Pentagon, however, beyond the acquisition of the F-15EX, expects to purchase a total of 2.443 F-35s over the next few decades.
Beyond the technical-operational disquisitions, the objective of the American legislators is clear to give "oxygen" to the home industry by facilitating Boeing by acquiring the F-15EX which in some ways would completely complete the capabilities of the US Air Force.