Yeah external tanks are dropped for stealth mode, right?
I don’t “get” what our FRiend PIF’s real problem is since, to pick out just one example as I read published numbers: the F-35C has twice the combat radius of the F-18 Super Hornet it will replace — so how is that a bad thing?
Yes, the non-stealth F-18 can add external fuel tanks, which might double its range, so then it equals the stealthy F-35’s combat radius.
So, the problem here is what, exactly?