“By comparison, the F-35A (land-based variant) has an air-to-air combat radius of 760 nautical miles”
Although the fact that the F-35 cannot hope to fill the role of air superiority regardless of range.
Maybe next time there will be no halting production prematurely.
“Although the fact that the F-35 cannot hope to fill the role of air superiority regardless of range.”
Neither can it fill the role of close air support.
Using the F35 for close air support is like plowing a field with a $2.6 million Lamborghini Countach.
“Although the fact that the F-35 cannot hope to fill the role of air superiority regardless of range.”
Current/modern air superiority is all about AAM range and detection/targeting range.
It will not be another decade before that is done with transport sized aircraft. Already they are being tested as “missile trucks”.
With our political system? You’re dreaming.
Next time....
Ha!
“...the F-35 cannot hope to fill the role of air superiority regardless of range...” [doorgunner69, post 4]
“The Air Force top brass are a bunch of bean counters that believe they can build and operate one aircraft that can meet the mission requirements of multiple roles...” [taxcontrol, post 5]
“...Current/modern air superiority is all about AAM range and detection/targeting range. It will not be another decade before that is done with transport sized aircraft. Already they are being tested as “missile trucks”...” [Mariner, post 11]
“...And the F-35 will magically deliver as:...light bomber... ground attack...combat fighter...close...air support...anti-satellite...anti-submarine...Pizza delivery platform...” [MercyFlush, post 12]
“...And provide ground support from 35000 feet.” [dljordan, post 35]
The F-35 will do fine in air-to-air roles, if air-to-air weapons are mounted. Missiles have completely outclassed manned craft since the mid 1980s, but the fighter mafia cannot bear to admit it.
USAF’s top brass are fighter pilots. Not as smart as bean-counters - whom they usually ignore as it is.
Extra kudos to Mariner for pointing out key factors in modern air combat. Most other respondents cannot bear to admit that dogfighting (hard-turning, visual only, guns only) was on its way out by the mid 1930s. As WW2 began, the modern fighter had advance so greatly in performance that any pilot was helpless without direction and support from ground-based sensor and command/control networks.
Air-to-air weapons have been proposed since the 1950s, to arm larger aircraft. Look up Project Pye Wacket. The fighter mafia keeps killing them.
Despite cutesy sarcasm, MercyFlush has managed to leave two chief capabilities of the F-35 off the list:
(1) multi-platform networking, in which any aircraft (or similarly equipped platform, ground/air/water/space) can assume central control and redirect the attack force to any target that can be located. In real time.
(2) all-aspect situational awareness, including under and behind the aircraft. Traditional blind spots are disappearing.
All the capabilities are attainable, but it won’t be cheap. It’s not magic; good engineering development and operational testing are essential and cannot be rushed.
B-52Gs provided usefully accurate close air support from above 45,000 ft during DESERT STORM. It’s not been necessary to get inside eyeball range and hasn’t been for decades.
Stop living in the past.