Even after all these years it is still about Energy Maneuverability (EM). Thanks for posting.
Next thing you know, they’ll be lowering the standards so women can serve in the front lines...oh wait...
what are we going to do, tell the other side they can’t fly faster, turn harder and accelerate quicker than we can?
geez.
Your multi-gazillion dollar machine doesn’t perform up to specs?
No problem! We’ll just change the specs!
/s
Make em run on E-15, and have little windmills in the wings that produce electricity as they fly.
Almost every new weapons system — P-8, LCS, MCM, F-22, F-35, LPD-17, FCS, UCS — is showing severe problems. Very bad news and indicative of a process that doesn’t work.
“But much of the discussion is theoretical at this point, the F-35 has not been operationally tested, nor have tactics been developed for the aircraft’s usage. How the aircraft will eventually fare once fully developed and fielded is an open question.”
Developing effective tactics requires a fielded aircraft; fielding requires production approval; production approval requires successfully passing operational testing; successful operational testing requires having an aircraft that can meet the performance specifications of the several services involved; adjusting the performance specifications allows the aircraft to conclude the development phase and proceed to operational test.
The Pentagon apparently has decided that: 1) even with the limitations on the F-35, having a force comprised almost entirely of 5th generation fighters is better than the current mix of 3rd, 4th and a small number of 5th generation fighters and/or 2) they expect to fix the sustained turn rate and acceleration to Mach issues through post-production engineering upgrades.
But what do I know? I’m a history major.
Karnak holds the envelope to his forehead:
“I see foreign sales cancellations.
I won’t bother opening the envelope.”
That was the knock on the Phantom, couldn't turn with the Migs.
At least it was fast. Apparently the F-35 can't even boast that.
I have said since Day One for us (Canada) that this aircraft will never move into mass production. We’ve cancelled it now and I can see more cancelations.
The F-35 Edsel.