Posted on 09/27/2018 10:44:20 AM PDT by Red Badger
Washington (AFP) - American F-35 stealth fighters have been used in a combat operation for the first time, a defense official said, marking a major milestone for the most expensive plane in history.
Thursday's mission took place against Taliban targets in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, when more than one F-35 flew from the USS Essex amphibious assault ship.
"It was a successful strike," the official told AFP.
The planes deployed were the F-35B variant, used by the Marine Corps and capable of taking off from a short runway and landing vertically.
The Israeli military said in May that it had used its newly acquired F-35s in combat operations, becoming the first country to do so.
Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Hmmm.... 1st reported, but perhaps not the 1st, if rumors about the Israeli’s using it to beeotch slap the bad guys north of the Golan Heights....
I find it amazing and ridiculous that new USA combat aircaft are FIRST used in combat by non-USA countries.
That’s amazing.
They reportedly used F-16’s...................
When the last F-35 is retired, I bet it will be an F-35B — the VTOL variant.
An Afghan strike mission. An A-6 could have done it. Hell, an A-1 could have done the same mission.
We sure spend money well.
A carrier costs 13 billion. The planes on it cost 400 Billion and can’t shake an F-16.
Typical
I suspect the Pentagon wanted this to check its performance in real life situations.................
Never should have done away with the A-6.
VA-35
Never should have done away with the A-6.
VA-35
Both airframes are way past their life span. I do agree the F-35 is a boondoggle. Too expensive, cost overruns out of control, supply chain issues, and the O to D concept is seriously flawed. O to D is just a way for the contractors to squeeze tons of money out of the tax payers. Military maintainers are the best in the world. The old system of maintenance has served us well for decades. The old system also gave society a return on investment when maintainers entered the civilian work force with skills and experience.
A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon your talking real money........
It was a BIG mistake when Baraq Hussein 0bama and congress decided that one engine was better than two in the F-35.
400 Billion for R&D, 2500+ aircraft and sustainment, if you want the truth to be told. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier, and it predecessor the A-4M Skyhawk had single engines too. Marine Corps A-4M Skyhawk’s (AKA, Lockheed Martin A-4AR Fightinghawk) are still flying with the Argentine Air Force today.
Not a rumor. In May the head of the Israeli Air force confirmed they had been used twice in combat missions and provided a photo of one flying over Beirut.
The USS Essex is an LHD, not a ‘carrier’ by any stretch. Been commissioned since 1992 so it has paid its way already.
“I suspect the Pentagon wanted this to check its performance in real life situations.................”
Yeah, because if it can survive the air defenses of the taliban, it can clearly survive Moscow or Peking ADA environments.
Well, we are building Ford class now. And any lower priced ships makes my point even more valid. The program is the most expensive weapons program in human history. Manhattan project doesn’t even come close.
We should have a world beater. It cant even survive 1970s USAF fighters like the F-15 and 16.
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