Loh: The future of the American fighter jet

By John Michael Loh

Special to the Star-Telegram

Every time American fighter pilots climb into their cockpits, they know they are strapping into the best fighter planes in the world. That gives them the confidence they need to perform any mission successfully. Airmen have always had the upper hand against any adversary because the U.S. defense industry has been able to develop and produce the world's best fighters, for our forces and allies. Today, the F-22 and the F-35 fighters give fighter pilots the ability to dominate in a multitude of missions.

However, the current clamor for cuts in defense as part of deficit reduction threatens our fighter supremacy. Critics claim current U.S. fighters are so much better than any possible opponent that we can reduce the planned number of these fighters and forget about beginning new ones. But, they are wrong. The F-22 and F-35 are dominant today, but the nation has a high standard of warfare to uphold in the future. Our forces proved in the Gulf War of 1991, Desert Storm, that they could win quickly, decisively and with few casualties. Now, they are expected to win the same way in any future war regardless of the size or capabilities of our adversaries.

The American public expects our forces to dominate adversaries quickly. Air warfare is not a sporting event. It is not acceptable to win by small or even large margins. The U.S. must win 99-0, not 99-98 in double overtime. The new standard demands this level of dominance.

The U.S has been able to equip the Air Force and Navy with superior fighters because of its competitive fighter industrial base, including many companies in North Texas that impact its economy.

The industry also has led the way in equipping our friends and allies with superior fighters. That has provided a favorable balance of trade for the U.S., one of the few industries that enjoys that status. But, now with the defense industry already in a downturn, and critics wanting defense to take more of the pain for deficit reduction, the existence of the fighter industry is threatened. Only one contractor, Lockheed Martin, is building fighters for the Air Force, and there are no new fighters in development. Keeping design teams current in even one company appears impossible now that the F-35 is completing its development.

New fighter designs are underway in other countries. Russia maintains a robust technology base for fighter aircraft claiming that its new Sukhoi T-50 fighter will match the F-22 and F-35. China and India also are in the new fighter business, China with its J-20 fighter prototype, and India with a new indigenous fighter. To be sure, the threat is not 10 feet tall today by any means. But, unless the U.S. preserves its competitive fighter base, these countries, and more, will catch us.

In order to win quickly, decisively and with few casualties, we must stay at least one generation ahead of our potential adversaries. We have been able to do that since Vietnam with the F-15, F-16 and F-18. Today, the F-22 and F-35 are one generation better than anything else flying. But they won't stay that way forever.

New fighters don't need to exceed traditional "higher, faster and farther" performance extremes. Instead, we need to exploit technologies that yield lower operating and support costs, superior and easy to maintain stealth, improved precision attack and higher resolution sensors, to name just a few. They should also be easy to adapt for multiple missions with designs that allow upgrades over time. In short, the goal should be using technology to lower costs to make future fighters more affordable, so we can field them in sufficient numbers to dominate potential adversaries.

Now that the U.S. is withdrawing from Afghanistan it should invest more in deterring future conflicts and ensuring that no one doubts America's resolve to remain second to none in the skies. That means a vibrant, competitive fighter industry, with three companies making aircraft and at least two companies making engines, each working on technology and prototypes at the same time. That formula has resulted in the best fighter planes in the world in the past. It also increases U.S. competitiveness in fighter competitions globally.

As Congress and the Pentagon plan future air forces and acquisition strategies, they need to insure America maintains its air dominance and a robust fighter industrial base. The two go together. Both are national treasures.

Gen. John Michael Loh is a former Air Force vice chief of staff and former commander of Air Combat Command.

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