Posted on 07/19/2006 7:10:06 AM PDT by white trash redneck
Even with all the technology - it still comes down to the training and guts of the guy behind the wheel or gun...and I am not too impressed by the Europeans...
My take is that the F-22 is #1, the F-35 #2 in air dominance.
The author sounds like he is worried that Europe won't be able to fend off U.S. air attacks.
"Oh my gosh...what will we do if the American's attack?!?!"
News flash, if we do attack Europe, it's because you're up to eyeballs in Islamic terrorists.
A bad weapon in the hands of a good soldier will always best a great weapon in the hands of a bad soldier.
The F-22 is an air superiority fighter, the F-35 an attack fighter.
Two VERY different missions. . .
Yes, but it sounds as if the F-35 is a better air dominance fighter than even the best the EUropeons have to offer, second only to the F-22.
The advantage of the F-35 relative to the F-22 is: you can get maybe three F-35's for the price of an F-22, AND the F-35 is a multi-role aircraft. The F-22 is clearly an air-dominance aircraft. The F-35 is o.k. in that role, and is furthermore sufficiently effective in a broad range of missions. The comparison of the F-22 to the F-35 or the F-16 is kind of like the comparison of the B-2 to the F-35 or the F-16, or for that matter the A-10 to the F-16. I don't know if the F-35 will emerge as the best buy in the world as the mainstay of the air forces of most democratic nations of the world, the way the F-16 did, but it's looking like maybe it will.
"Two VERY different missions. . ."
Thanks for validating my point.
Now now, who posted this thread without any sexy pictures? C'mon now, people, you know that's against the rules. :D
'Yes, but it sounds as if the F-35 is a better air dominance fighter than even the best the EUropeons have to offer, second only to the F-22.'
The problem with your argument is that F35 is being jointly developed between the US and Britain with contibutions and orders from Italy, Holland, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Israel and Singapore. So most EU countries will have their own aircraft and F35's!
CRIPES!!!! 50K a MINUTE>?
named after the P-38 Lightning, the most effective long range attack fighter of WW2. ( by the way the F22 was originally going to be called the Lightning 2, but it was changed to raptor during the Jurassic Park craze.)
Ohhhh baaaby... now that's more like it!
'Even with all the technology - it still comes down to the training and guts of the guy behind the wheel or gun...and I am not too impressed by the Europeans...'
I presume you don't class Brits as Europeans as I don't - the USAF is pretty impressed with RAF pilots:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668391/posts
One of the last things Yammamoto ever saw ... The National Socialists weren't too fond of it, either.
It should be noted that the F-22 has the capability of carying a significant strike payload. This is not its primary mission but it is indeed a multi-role aircraft.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.