Posted on 04/09/2018 12:49:58 PM PDT by Mariner
Russian air defenses may appear formidable as part of Moscow’s increasingly sophisticated anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capability, but areas protected by these systems are far from impenetrable bubbles or 'Iron Domes’ as some analysts have called them.
While it is true that a layered and integrated air defense may effectively render large swaths of airspace too costly—in terms of men and materiel—to attack using conventional fourth generation warplanes such as the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, these systems have an Achilles’ Heel. Russian air defenses will still struggle to effectively engage fifth-generation stealth aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor or F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
“In terms of establishing viable air defenses against opponents with fifth generation aircraft, it's quite clear how Russia is trying to tackle the problem of stealth," said Mike Kofman, a research scientist specializing in Russian military affairs at CNA Corporation during an interview with The National Interest. “Russia's advanced radar, variety of capable missiles and systems that try to integrate large amounts of data for a more potent air defense will increasingly segregate Western air forces into two benches. In a future where these systems have proliferated to China, Iran and other regional powers there will be those that can penetrate and survive against advanced air defenses in a high end fight, and those whose job it is to bomb ISIL or its successor.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalinterest.org ...
I post this article to further the discussion.
It’s impossible to have a civil discussion with FReepers about the F-35!
“It’s impossible to have a civil discussion with FReepers about the F-35!”
No it’s not.
F-22 Raptor would be my money on a Dog Fight
The F-35 is not made to dog fight.
“The F-35 is not made to dog fight.”
Correct.
It’s designed for deep strike and interdiction.
By virtue of stealth, targeting and AMRAAM’s it has a respectable, stand-off fighter role.
Most 4th gen fighters would take it out in an actual dog fight.
However, if one gets into a dog fight, it has failed several opportunities to kill the adversary.
No its not, but if the rumors are true and Israel used them yesterday in to attack Assad, then the Russian S-300 missile system could not track them.
Good job F-35 jockeys.
I bet the Russians/ex-soviets kick themselves in their asses every day for letting that former Soviet physicist publish his book on stealth aircraft on the open market. Of course he has a very lucrative job offer from Lockheed Martin when that placed collapsed...
I think the Israeli air force answers that question.
F-22 Raptor would be my money on a Dog Fight
The F-35 is not made to dog fight.
The ‘F’ in F-35 confuses some people.
“I think the Israeli air force answers that question.”
If I had to drive into the teeth of a layered Russian air defense system, I would pick the F-35 over any other aircraft.
Petr Ufimtsev had other reasons for leaving the USSR and working for Lockheed:
“At the age of 3 his father was repressed by the regime and later died in a forced-labor camp (GULAG system)”
Lotta people in the Soviet defense forces and the current Russian Federation forces have a past like that. The Communists are always low life gangsters who lock up anyone with an ounce of brains or initiative.
““The F-35 is not made to dog fight.”
Correct.”
The F-4 was designed without a gun because we did not envision dogfights in our future.
All fighters must be capable of performing all aspects of the A/A mission. . .my opinion, of course.
Because it is supposed to replace the F-18 and F-16, that adds to the confusion.
I’m thinking my bet would be the F-22. . .
NO. it’s for Cat Fights.
Right...Gimme a F-22 over any aircraft in the world. I’ll take my chances...
Well, the 35 is light years behind an F-15. That’s just a fact. The 35 is heavier on that ramp by 5000 lbs. WIng loading of 107 lbs per sq/ft vs 73 in the F-15.
And 28,000 lbs of thrust vs 47,000 in the F-15.
The 36 carries an embarrassing 180 rounds vs 940 in the F-15, yet the 35 is touted as a -CAS- platform too.
The 35 is less stealthy than an F-117. It’s ok, but not much more. And we will be flying them for 25 or 30 years. But radars are merely a function of processing power and speed which doubles every 18 months.
A stealth airframe vs increases in SAM technology? The airframe fixed in time is bound to lose in a few short years. Even Ben Rich admitted this.
When that time comes, we will wish we had way more F-15s instead of the slowest least maneuverable fighter we have deployed since the early 60s.
“But radars are merely a function of processing power and speed which doubles every 18 months.”
It’s more than that.
It’s the physics of reflectivity too. And frequency has a lot to do with that. And materials. And shapes.
Two different stealth designs for different goals.
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