Posted on 06/30/2015 11:52:34 AM PDT by Teflonic
It’s the most expensive weapon in history, but the F-35 stealth jet has been outperformed by a 40-year-old F-16 jet in a dogfight.
A mock air battle was held over the Pacific Ocean, between the cutting-edge F-35, the most sophisticated jet ever, and an F-16, which was designed in the 1970s.
But according to the test pilot, the F-35, which has cost the US military more than $350billion, is still too slow to hit an enemy plane or dodge gunfire.
The dogfight, staged in January near Edwards Air Force Base, California, was designed to test the F-35’s ability in close-range combat at 10,000 to 30,000 feet.
Both the F-35 pilot and the F-16 pilot were attempting to ‘shoot down’ each other down.
But, according to the pilot’s report, the F-35 performed so appallingly that he deemed it completely inappropriate for fighting other aircraft within visual range.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It was caught Raptored?
Thank you for some actual information!
“What happened to the F-22 ?”
I don’t know all of the tactical and technical reasons the F-22 production program was cancelled.
However, I understand that it’s $49,000 cost per flight hour, and needing engine over haul after several hundred hours, was a factor.
http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-shows-hourly-cost-of-military-aircraft-2014-12
From what I can tell, the US will lose air superiority in the not too distant future due to Russia and China fifth generation fighter jet developments, and having larger numbers of aircraft.
Not surprising, though.
After all, Obola, our Nero II is in the role of Commander-in-chief.
No recourse if the F-18 didn't pan out ...
Having read the article it was beaten by the plane not the pilot.
Won’t we reach a point where a human pilot isn’t needed?
I am biased about the F-16, I helped build them and their various AISs.
The plane has stunned everybody that has come up against it. It is a national defense treasure.
Why would the Air Force show anybody the maximum capability of the F-35? I would guess that they aren’t going to lay out in plain view exactly what this plane can do. Let the Russians and Chinese find out for themselves when they decide to engage.
The F-16 is a 40 year old aircraft that is still one of the best tactical A-A (dogfighting) platforms in the world. 9G turns, guns and missiles, great visibility outside the cockpit. Hard to beat. The F-35 on the other hand is intended to serve multiple roles as tactical fighter/CAS/suppression of integrated air defense systems. etc., and may not perform visual BFM with the same competency as a Viper, but the F-35 is equipped to perform its A-A at well beyond LOS and never appear on an adversary’s fire control. The F-35 isn’t meant to be an air superiority fighter, that’s the roll the F-22 and F-15 fill. Just my $.02.
So what if it can't do any of these things well enough to actually survive? It's not like anyone in the program will have to risk his life flying in combat.
Oh, wait...
Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a flyby.
They built a couple of hundred then eventually decided the USAF wouldn’t need a new air-superiority fighter for a couple of decades. And the F-22 AFAIK isn’t much good at anything else. Its not so hot at bombing things, which is most of what the USAF wants to do.
This was a good point, 1991-to today. There still isn’t much technical competition for the USAF, and even the Chinese will still take a decade or so to come up with any significant numbers of comparable aircraft.
The end of the Pax Americana is in sight though.
It seems that it wont take that much to restart F-22 production if necessary.
Active Duty ping.
The F-22 developed some problem with its O2 supply, and they used that to basically halt it.
The F-22 was a world beater. It was not meant for dogfighting either. Usually opposing jets were lit up before, or just after they entered the box.
All of this was predicated on a concept the Air Force had a decade ago. They decided no non-stealth aircraft would be allowed into known missile engagement zones in the next generation of aircraft.
It’s unfair to use the F-35 in any engagement it’s not designed for. For example, long distance, when it has to carry fuel tanks and loses stealth. Or close-in, when it’s lack of power betrays it. It is only supposed to be used for in-between missions. We just have to get an agreement from other side to fight wars on our terms.
“I am biased about the F-16”
Me too - was in the 388 TFW when it became the 1st combat ready F-16 Wing back in 1979.
Remember Obama said it was out dated.
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