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.
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
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 They have been replaced by the F/A-18 E and F.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.