Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (ATW)) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Dogfighting Message-ID: <7643@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 21 Jun 89 02:46:42 GMT References: <7363@cbnews.ATT.COM> <7585@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department Lines: 44 Approved: military@att.att.com From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (ATW)) In article <7585@cbnews.ATT.COM> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: > ... >They skimped on the engines in the F-14A, which was meant as an initial >interim version. The F-14B was to have had much more advanced engines. >Said engines ran into problems (both technical and financial, I think) >and the F-14B got quietly forgotten. Which leads us up to the present day situation ... The Navy is developing the F-14D (ie Super Tomcat) to correct all these problems. (I forget when development is supposed to be done, but I want to say 1990.) The "D" version has powerful engines and updated electronics, but it may not be affordable in the current budget climate. Part of the problem revolves around a low planned production (~24/year) rate, leading to very high unit cost (~ $50M). (These numbers come from an article in the USNI Proceedings.) This because the Navy does not think it can come up with all the money up front, even though it would cheaper in the long run to do so. I have not heard of any technical problems, but then I may not have my ear close enough to the ground. :-) As an interim measure, some (6-12 in this last year) of the F-14As have had their engines replaced with the engine to be used in the F-14D. These upgraded planes are sometimes referred to as the F-14A+. Given the high cost of F-14Ds, some suggest that the Navy not bother at all and instead wait for the Navy version of the ATF. However, many Navy people just are not happy with this ATF thing anyway. The congress made the ATF a joint Navy/Air Force production. (Insert Navy memories of the F-111 joint development here.) The source selection for the Air Force ATF is supposed to happen in 1990. My impression is that the Navy side is not that far along. The Navy is worried that their somewhat different requirements will lead to a version of the ATF which does not have that much in common with the Air Force one and hence not much joint production savings. Ted Kim ARPAnet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu UCLA Computer Science Department UUCP: ...!ucbvax!cs.ucla.edu!tek 3804C Boelter Hall PHONE: (213) 206-8696 Los Angeles, CA 90024 ESPnet: tek@ouija.board