Posted on 07/19/2006 7:10:06 AM PDT by white trash redneck
The F-35 (recently named the Lightning II) is due to enter service soon. While the F-22 is widely seen as the ultimate air-to-air machine, the F-35 is described as a multi-role aircraft. How does the F-35 compare in the air-to-air mission against likely competitors like the French Rafale, the Swedish Gripen, and the multi-national Eurofighter?
The Rafale, Gripen, and Eurofighter are all in service or expected to enter service in 2006. All of them boast some of the best electronics suites ever to appear in combat aircraft. All have top speeds approaching 2,000 kilometers an hour. All three aircraft carry excellent beyond-visual-range missiles (like the Mica, AMRAAM, and Meteor). All are highly maneuverable. But will they be better than the F-35 in a fight?
The answer, surprisingly, is probably not. The F-35 has one big advantage over these three fighters from Europe. Its radar signature is very small – as is the case with the F-117 and F-22. Given that its speed is comparable to the European jets, and its AESA radar is at least as good as the European systems, this "invisibility" is a decisive advantage. The best weapons in the world are useless if they cannot see their targets.
The F-35 will be able to see the Rafale, Gripen, and Eurofighter long before it can be seen itself. The first rule of air combat may be "speed is life", but the second rule is "lose the sight, lose the fight". In the 21st century, sight includes radar. It is very likely that the only warning the F-35 may give of its presence will be when its radar has locked on to one of the European fighters. By that point, the F-35 is already close to launching its AMRAAMs.
This is probably the major reason for the United States Air Force's future dominance of the air. Even its second-best fighter will probably be able to best the front-line designs of other western nations in a "paper" fight based on specifications and capabilities. When the level of training American pilots get is added to the mix, the F-35's advantage becomes staggering. One other factor to consider is that the United States Air Force plans to have 1,763 F-35s on inventory (the Marine Corps and Navy variants would add another 780 F-35s to the mix). If the Rafale is built to a planned force level of 292, and the Saudi order for the Eurofighter goes through, the combined Gripen, Rafale, and Eurofighter production runs will total 1,262, meaning there will be two F-35s for every one of the advanced European fighters. – Harold C. Hutchison (haroldc.hutchison@gmail.com)
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.