” ... It couldn’t even out dogfight an F-16 that had full external fuel tanks ...”
Even if this is an accurate summary, it misses the point.
The F-35 was not designed for air-to-air combat. If it had been, other capabilities would have been diminished.
The public’s conception of air combat is somewhat out-of-date anyway: dogfighting has been on the wane since the 1930s at least.
The egoes of fighter pilots - never a small thing - cannot permit them to admit it, though.
And it’s just possible they enjoy the hero-worship that washes over them, from star-struck lesser mortals at all points of the compass.
“The F-35 was not designed for air-to-air combat. “
I don’t know what makes you think that, but the Joint Strike Fighter program has as one of its program goals to replace air-to-air fighters like the F-18. Being an air-to-air fighter is in the program specifications.
“dogfighting has been on the wane since the 1930s at least.”
We were dogfighting in the 1930’s? Which war?
WWII (1940’s) and Vietnam (1960’s) both saw significant dogfighting.
” dogfighting has been on the wane since the 1930s at least.”
Care to explain?
Curious statement as we have dogfights, even to this day. The F-4 was designed without a gun precisely because of the opinion that dogfights were nevermore, but we found out the hard way that is not the case. We close to the merge and engage. . .a completely stand-off A/A fight is not reality.
The F-22 has a gun because we know that we will have to close to the merge and enter that ‘phonebox for a knife-fight. And also because we know we will merge we have fighters that are maneuverable. . .if we weren’t going to merge then we wouldn’t need a jet that can out-perform other jets.
The JSF was designed to replace the F-18, the F-16, and eventually the F-15. These are all fighters with an A/A mission.
The JSF, like all other jets, it is the planned mission that defines the configuration of the jet. For the JSF, A/G. . . loaded with A/G munitions (with some self-protection A/A missiles and a loaded internal gun), and if planned for A/A, it’s load-out will be wall-to-wall missiles and the internal gun.
The JSF is supposed to replace the A-10 and the A-10 has an A/A capability, too (A/A missiles and the GAU-8 gun can really reach out and touch someone in the A/A environment. . .and the A-10 got an A/A kill during Gulf War I.
Evolving weapons and tactics make A/A engagements even more difficult than a few years past, let alone the 1930’s, so “dogfighting” skills are even more relevant and essential.
“The egoes of fighter pilots - never a small thing - cannot permit them to admit it, though.”
Ego is irrelevant about this subject. Missions and capability are facts and we know for a fact A/A is complex, difficult and requires modern technology and a warriors heart to win. And fighter pilots meet that challenge.
“And it’s just possible they enjoy the hero-worship that washes over them, from star-struck lesser mortals at all points of the compass.”
Not to be rude, seriously, but that really does sound like envy.
Yes, it is nice to be recognized for your select skills, aggression and an ability to fly, fight and win. Who wouldn’t like that, to be respected and admired for who you are and what you do?
But seriously, it is a challenging profession where if you screw up you are lucky to survive. Study and practice are required to hone your skills. Study to achieve in-depth knowledge of your—and your adversaries—jet’s capability and systems, along with study of weapons you use and your adversaries weapons as well. And this study is on-going and constant, as technology moves on, upgrades happen and breakthroughs (ours and THEIRS) happen. One must be intellectually prepared and possess the confidence that you are the best, that you will win because of your jet and your skills (”hands”).
Ego? Yes, you need that to be a fighter pilot. And that is not a bad thing.
Not one fighter pilot goes a career without losing friends to accidents, and then there is war. Because flying fighters is a challenge few can meet, of course there will be ego at play. However, do not be fooled by hollyweird movies (”Top Gun” for example). No one, NO ONE acts like that among their peers. . .after all, who are you going to impress? We are all fighter pilots. And those that do, do not last long before they are shut-down.
Cheers.