Another step toward 5th Gen air power for the Luftwaffe.

Lockheed ^ | 07/17/2026 | Lockheed

[Red6]

After completing final assembly, the aircraft recently made its way to Aircraft Final Finishes, where it will receive its paint and finishes, including the stealth coating that helps reduce its radar signature.

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Germany; US: Texas; War
KEYWORDS: f35; fighter; jsf; military

[Red6]

Iran has been working on their IADS for years, tailoring it specifically for us, throwing large sums of money at it, and getting some help by both China and Russia.

The F35 has performed awesome.

Even the one that did get hit, made it back: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-pilot-shrapnel-wounds-f-35-hit-iran/

He does a good job dispelling some of negative news of the past, at minute 20 he begins explaining why the F35 can take damage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_1LyUAOI4Q

The US is in many enabling technologies in pole position (specifically for military aircraft), albeit China is trying their best to narrow that advantage: stealth, radar, avionics, AI and computing, ECM and sensors, likely even power-plants for jets like this (P&W and GE).

The F35 is IMHO an ugly jet. It's not even memorably ugly like a Warthog. It looks like the short fat kid that wants to play basketball. However, what it lacks in "form" it seems to more than make up with in "function," and it's the latter which matters.

I think the German Luftwaffe is getting a capable platform.

[Blueflag]

I like that - the fat kid who hits nothing but net from anywhere on the court ;-)

Now, in fairness, contrast the F-35 with this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_F-47#/media/File:F-47-artist-rendition_(cropped).jpg

[ansel12]

As the son of a WWII vet who was attacked by Luftwaffe aircraft, I won’t ever get over the kick of parachuting out of Luftwaffe aircraft.

[voicereason]

Good. Now that Germany is building up their capabilities, perhaps we can draw down the U.S. presence in the European theatre.

[Decombobulator]

I thought there was a pan-European effort to develop their own 5th gen stealth jet. Maybe the F-35 is a stop gap until it’s ready.

[real saxophonist]

The Mover and Gonky Show is hosted by a couple of former fighter pilots.

Mover calls the F-35 "Fat Amy."

[Leaning Right]

I hope the Luftwaffe will get a more competent Reich Marshal this time.

[jmacusa]

“Ve vill learn to fly ze vay ve do everything in ze the German Army- By ze book!’’ Gert Frobe, “Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines’’.

[Blueflag]

LOL. funny cuz it’s true.

[adorno]

China is trying their best to narrow that advantage: stealth, radar, avionics, AI and computing, ECM and sensors, likely even power-plants for jets like this (P&W and GE).

The Chinese have a much easier time getting their air force to match that of the U.S.: they copy everything the U.S. does. The U.S. is the research and development department for the Chinese.

But, even while copying our stuff, that stuff fails to perform as our original stuff.

[real saxophonist]

And, they have pilots named Wang Wei.

[adorno]

The F-22 Raptor is even more stealthy than the F-35. No country other than the U.S. is allowed to purchase one or to get it’s hands on the F-22 tech. It’s exclusive to the U.S.

[srmanuel]

Yes, but is that Fokker a Messerschmidt we all want to know.

I could not help myself.

[AppyPappy]

It also denies them the knowledge of how to build things. Chinese developers and engineers will not test anything for fear it might fail. When the pilots get these planes, they are the beta testers.

[null and void]

Sorta like the early adopters of the latest and greatest MS Windows product...

[dfwgator]

"We are so back!"

[Maine Mariner]

Yes but Goering was a pretty fair WWI pilot!

[dfwgator]

He had two but they were small.

[Red6]

Different times.

He and Hitler were two of the biggest reasons why Germany lost as quickly as they did.

Goering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_G%C3%B6ring

He didn't think strategically.

It would be like making a smart SSG (E-6) who is an excellent squad leader, the corps commander in a major theater war.

That was a HUGE benefit to us.

Germany fought WWII without true strategic bombers or logistical airlift, with horrible consequences.

This was their mainstay bomber: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_111 (no payload, no altitude, no range)

This was their primary transport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_52 (not bad)

But our C47 had 2.6 times the range, could carry 1.6 times the payload, and we built 2.5 times as many: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_C-47_Skytrain

Why does this matter. There were several cases in WWII where we kept encircled forces on the ground going, or cut off by the sea, supplying them from the air. Think of how much more damage the German 6th Army could have done had they just gotten some food, medical supplies, ammo? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stalingrad Even if they had ultimately lost, had they gotten food, ammo and medical supplies, maybe even some fuel, they could have fought on and done (((FAR))) more damage.

Think of the Battle of Britain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Britain If they had sufficient numbers of a true “strategic bomber,” things would have been far worse.

Goering was not a great military strategist.

He was probably a patriot, fearless WWI ace, and even pretty smart. But his lack of experience in planning in a “big picture” sort of way was to Germany's detriment.

Germany went into a long strategic war, where being able to strike deep, carry a lot, fly high, was important. But they were equipped with with smaller, lighter payload, lower flying, shorter ranges. Large parts of the UK were not even in range for the Germans!: https://www.ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/map-battle-of-britain-px800.jpg

Had they caught this in 1939, in the beginning, maybe they could have recovered, but even as the Battle for Britain was unfolding, it was too late.

[AppyPappy]

Or the Covid vaccines