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.
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
Is this because the F35s are really good or because the SAMs are really bad?
New Israeli F-35 Takes Maiden Flight
http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/73052/new-israeli-f-35-takes-maiden-flight/#PfPeKGmiHM7AZulp.97
href="http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Column-one-Time-to-walk-away-from-US-aid-462677
I’ll wait for Obama to leave before I believe anything
So the plane is too good,,, or perhaps the radars used in the exercise were not so good...
Put it up against the latest Russian equipment in that exercise, like the S-400 SAM, and then lets see how things shake out.
“These aircraft work for their intended purpose and will be in the air for at least 40years.”
And that is the problem. CPU processing power expands at an exponential rate. A modern SAM radar already “sees” the 35, it just cannot sort it out processing-wise yet. In fact, the newest radars are so good that they basically see the “hole” in the sky where the stealth plane is.
Inside 5-8 years the radars will easily target the 35. Then you have a plane that has a dog rate of climb, turning radius, poor speed, crappy acceleration, etc.
You are stuck with this plane for 40 years.
Stealth is a battle of hardware vs software. The DOD has decided hardware replacement will trump speed of software.
Its an idiots position.
The 35 is a boondoggle, a failure, and will always suck except when used very carefully as a low capacity attack aircraft.
Horsecrap.
“These aircraft work for their intended purpose and will be in the air for at least 40years.”
Hasn’t it been in DEVELOPMENT for 40 years already? Will it EVER be ready for use or only after it’s overmatched by newly developed enemy a/c?
...and we have to let our enemies know this.
Truly, Bismarck was right: “God protects fools, drunks and the United States.”
I don't think there has ever been a conflict where our fighter pilots have been given total freedom to acquire and shoot BVR. If you know of one, please correct me, but show your source.
If the USAF is limited to shooting within visual range, an awful lot of the F-35's advantage just goes away.
It’s an attack bird and I think it’ll be fine in it’s defined role.
I call BS!
“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. “
Exactly what happened in Vietnam.
Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it...arrogance is not a virtue.