Almost all major platforms in SAF(land,air and sea) served at
about
30 years before retired.
So,i dunt think F5(after almost total tranformation ,so called
upgrading)
and F16 after upgrading will be retired so early.
I think F35 would be considered only after new F15 in services
for at least
10 to 15 years.Life cycle of new F15 may be shorter to say 20
years?
Technology changes so fast.No point to commit to F35 so
early.
Spore will fully ulitize money
invested in F15,
before buying better platforms.
We are not a country keen on
---newer
---bigger
---latest
---most powerful
---furtherer.
We just want the right stuff.
Besides machine,we also need right men to man the machines.
The utmost important is maintenance.---that is 3
M,remember.
No point to have the best machines in the world but
most of the time the platforms is inside the workshops
or shipyards for upgrading,if not retifications
or fixing the problems of poor design or poor
workmanship or both.
Lionnoisy, plane have lifespan, it depend on usage and hour in
the air. Even though we upgrade some of them, but that will only
extent the life for that long. If we keep it flying with older
engines , will only burn more money in fuel.
F-35 is being consider now, and not later.
You say technology change so fast , no point in commiting so
early .... ? Which day technology does not change, you can keep
waiting for tomorrow as tomorrow alway something new. As there
is queue for production & delivery, thus sometime we have to
just go for it. Frankly Rafale, Eurofighter, Su-35, gripen are all
around and we already know their capabilities and their planned
capabilities. By now with the f-35 in the late stage with even test
flight done, we too would have access to its capabilities .... thus
it is a good time for us to decide.
We have invested in F-15 , but it is time also to source for
suitable replacement for our F-16 & f-5E, which F-15 is not
suitable as replacement.
