[dp0622]

OK, so for people not in the know when it comes to the military, is there a jet we have now to fend off this China threat to replace the F-14 or is there a substantial gap in our defense now as a result of China’s new capabilities?

Thanks

[Destroyer Sailor]

If the reports on the F35s that Israel has are to be believed it is the plane. The Navy is having some problems with the F35B which is the naval version. The Navy is dealing with the need for its aircraft to be able to operate off carriers . The Navy will work the problems out and the fleet will have a first rate aircraft.

[Enlightened1]

The F-18 Super Hornets are the Navy’s choice to replace the older F-18s and Marines are going to the F-35s.

The Navy will have F-35s too.

[Future Snake Eater]

is there a jet we have now to fend off this China threat

A flyswatter.

[Sergio]

Not really, here is how the two stack up.

F/A 18 Super Hornet, 390nm combat radius carrying the AIM-120D AMRAAM missile with a max effective range of 86nm.

F-14 Tomcat, 500nm combat radius carrying the AIM-54 Phoenix missile with a max effective range of 100nm.

So in theory, the Tomcat/Phoenix combination could reach out and touch something 124nm farther away from the carrier than the Super Hornet/AMRAAM combination.

[Mr. Jeeves]

...is there a jet we have now to fend off this China threat...?

I'm thinking the 737 MAX, reconfigured as a missile-carrying drone. :)