Posted on 08/01/2016 5:27:12 PM PDT by Mariner
The F-35 has hit yet another snag. During a recent exercise at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, US Air Force F-35A pilots set out to practice evading surface-to-air missiles, but they could not, because the SAM radars on the ground could not even find the ultra-stealthy planes.
"If they never saw us, they couldn't target us," said Lt. Col. George Watkins, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, told the Air Force Times.
To participate in the exercise as planned, the F-35As had to turn on their transponders, essentially announcing their presence so the SAM sites could see and engage them.
"We basically told them where we were at and said, 'Hey, try to shoot at us,'" said Watkins.
Had Watkins and crew not turned on their transponders, "most likely we would not have suffered a single loss from any SAM threats while we were training at Mountain Home."
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
And please don't go off on rate of climb, turning radius, speed, ceiling etc. As those parameters are quickly becoming obsolete measures of effectiveness.
One would have to have and keep visual engagement with one of these to take it down, and then you'd have to use cannon.
Bwahaa-ha-ha… I'd like to see an unbiased competition of the F-35 vs. the F-22 in Air-Superiority and the A-10 vs. the F-35 in close-air-support.
I'd bet real money that the F-22 and A-10 would blow the F-35 out of the water in their respective arenas.
Amen
Okay, so they’re stealthy.
It’s still foolish to strap on a gun pod and pretend they can do the work of an A-10.
The problem here is that there has been a very long peace, in which potential opponents have had decades to develop systems and countersystems without combat experience against each other, at a high enough technology level.
Its become impossible to know where the military balance lies, as this may turn on an unanticipated factor, some overwhelming advantage of one side, surprising both.
Testing against ones own counter-systems systems is of limited value, as one is working within the same information bubble.
The next big war among great powers will be full of surprises.
TTIUWP
But the A-10 may not be able to do the work of an A-10 against modern air defenses.
Well I guess it wouldn’t fare well competing against a C-17, KC-135 or B-52 either not to mention a Minuteman III. I know...I know...
Is this because the F35s are really good or because the SAMs are really bad?
Were they using the latest Russian SAM’s that Putin is selling to anyone and everyone?
New Israeli F-35 Takes Maiden Flight
http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/73052/new-israeli-f-35-takes-maiden-flight/#PfPeKGmiHM7AZulp.97
Just like it’s foolish to send the A-10 into contested airspace. The A-10 has its role, but not in a modern, challenged environment.
href="http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Column-one-Time-to-walk-away-from-US-aid-462677
Of course they would. They tried to make the F-35 a do-everything aircraft and in order to do so, you have to make compromises.
The A-10s don’t go in until you have air superiority.
It looks kind of ugly if you ask me.
I’ll wait for Obama to leave before I believe anything
You are suggesting a competition where the F-35 has to perform the other aircraft’s primary mission. So how about a competition between the F-22, A-10, and the F-35, where the mission is deep strike against a heavily defended target that requires 2,000 pound class weapons for destruction?
I have real money and I'll take that bet. How much do you want to lose?
Touche.
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