somewhere, PukinDog is laughing...
Posted on 03/20/2018 1:54:49 PM PDT by BBell
In Afghanistan 1 Taliban raid destroyed 6 harriers and critically damaged two more. If we had f-35s there it would have been about six hundred million in damage. This means they will not be forward deployed, and the grunts will suffer again
Can’t you just buy functional fighter planes from China?
“Meanwhile, the Rooskies and Chinese build lots of less costly “good enough” weapons.”
Except we have twice as many as both of them combined.
And almost all of them are better, with more advanced stuff coming online every day.
https://www.globalfirepower.com/aircraft-total-fighters.asp
“I’m probably in the minority here, but I’m going to get out and front and say the F-35 is going to be a much more potent and effective platform than anyone seems to be willing to believe at this stage”.
It already is.
From a standoff distance it can take out the F-22.
It just hasn’t met all contracted specs yet.
“as far as flying yeah kinda it’s the slowest thing we have fielded since the 1950s”
Only Mach 1.6 with a 1200nm range.
Oh, and nobody can see it.
somewhere, PukinDog is laughing...
Good comment about the Marine’s version. I have read the same. In the close air combat role it will NEVER replace the A-10 and the F-22 has been a better aircraft in many aspects.
It struggles to get a 590 mile combat radius with a 3000 pound load. An A-6E carried 18000 pounds out 1000 miles from the boat. An F-14d also had a much bigger load and range.
Range means loiter time. It means a carrier in the Indian ocean can put planes over Afghanistan without coming into range of Pakistan’s shore based missiles.
And yes, 1.6 is very slow for a modern fighter. Almost all it’s competitors can outrun it easily. Also the ones it replaces can.
Stealth? Nobody can see it? Think again, it has some stealth features but it is VERY observable. It is nothing like the stealth of the F-117.
Basically, it’s a poor attempt to build a low end F-22, enrich contractors, and sell a lot overseas.
Think about this, if it was such a hot ship. We wouldn’t be selling them to anyone that asked.
The sad truth is that carrier air wings are only about half as powerful as in the Desert Storm era.
Oh, and hang external tanks or weapons, and now it’s a glaringly visible slow moonpig.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
It struggles to get a 590 mile combat radius with a 3000 pound load. An A-6E carried 18000 pounds out 1000 miles from the boat. An F-14d also had a much bigger load and range.now now, it's not nice to compare the virtues of a workhorse with a vanity of a showhorse
My neighbor said you had to always be thinking and acting ahead of it when flying. In hover it is more difficult to control than a helicopter. In forward flight it even has quirks in the envelope that make it dangerous.
But, remember the F-16 was designed as a cheaper alternative to the F-15 so that it could be used as a clean-up dumptruck after the F-15 established air superiority.
As it worked out, the F-16 does everything the F-15 does cheaper and nearly as well. The F-35 can assume the same role with respect to the F-22. It's mission has to mature as it's capabilities mature.
The A-10 is a stand alone airplane without peer in accuracy, loiter, lethality and fear factor. The only plane that approaches that legacy is the BUFF and that is because it can dump more than 100 500 pounders on you before you even know its there. I have an acquaintence named Charlie than can attest to that.
“Oh, and nobody can see it.”
Says who? You?
“From a standoff distance it can take out the F-22.”
No, it cannot. That is the most retarded thing to say. There is no missile in our inventory that can take out a stealth aircraft.
As you’re likely aware, neither the A-6 or F-14 are any longer in service. They have been replaced by the F/A-18 E and F.
And the F-35C’s performance and range is nearly identical to the F/A-18.
And it has the added benefit of going stealth when needed. When not needed it can act as that bomb carrier you so value. And just as well as the F/A-18.
More than that, it has the ability to view the entire battle space and assign lesser platforms as needed. It’s IR sensors and weapons computer are unsurpassed by any platform, including the F-22. In fact, when in full stealth configuration it can detect the F-22 from 100 miles, while remaining undetected. An overwhelming advantage in the ago of long-range AA missiles. Especially those with IR terminal guidance.
Every pilot who has flown it, praises it.
Every country who had the classified brief on its capabilities, bought it.
“100 500 pounders “
NOTHIGN says FU like a flight of bombers dropping that kind of payload!
“Every country who had the classified brief on its capabilities, bought it.”
That’s a boldfaced lie since you are equating the classified briefing as to why they bought it.
They bought it from being strong armed into it or by being incentivized by the USA Taxpayers buying it for them.
“Every pilot who has flown it, praises it.”
Every pilot had better, politically speaking.
“It’s IR sensors and weapons computer are unsurpassed by any platform, including the F-22.”
Because to kill off the F-22, the USAF decided not to upgrade the F-22 with the newer electronics.
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