F-35A in full loadout for first time

[UKBengali]

Here we go again....

Almost 2000 F-35s produced by 2030 for the US Military and we are still talking purely about qualitative advantages? How many Su-57s and J-20s are Russia and China going to produce combined by then? This is of course ignoring the fact that the F-35 is arguably a better plane (kinematics should be the least impressive aspect of a fifth generation fighter)

About F-35 stealth:

""I would say that General Hostage … is accurate in his statement about the simple stealthiness of the F-35 [with regard] to other airplanes," Bogdan said in the interview. The statement was accurate for radar cross section, as measured in decibels, and range of detectability, he said, and he scoffed at the notion that anyone can tell how stealthy an aircraft is just by looking at it.""

From: http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2014/December 2014/The-F-35-on-Final-Approach.aspx

The F-35 works well for US as it will have the F-22 to clear the skies of enemy aircraft.

If kinematics is not important for 5th generation fighters, then why was so much effort placed on making F-22
extremely fast, agile and able to suprecruise at Mach 1.7?

F-35 will be a poor option for any US ally that has to face enemy 5th generation fighters optimised for air-combat.

Turkey, South Korea and Japan are developing their own 5th generation fighters not only to boost their own defence industries, but the fact that they have little faith in the air-to-air capability of the F-35.

 

[SirHatesALot]

Freedom coming right through your roof.

 

[gambit]

Here we go again....

...he said, and he scoffed at the notion that anyone can tell how stealthy an aircraft is just by looking at it.""

People in this forum, ESPECIALLY those who have never been anywhere near aviation, can figure out an aircraft's RCS just from looking at Internet pictures.

And if they use the word 'optimised' with the British spelling, you better believe it that they know what they are talking about.

We have seen this over and over and over and over and over...

 

[AMDR]

If kinematics is not important for 5th generation fighters, then why was so much effort placed on making F-22
extremely fast, agile and able to suprecruise at Mach 1.7?

Never said it wasn't important.

Compare a Super Hornet and a Raptor. The performance difference in Information gathering/ISR will be much greater then kinematics. Hence the "least impressive" comment.

 

[UKBengali]

Never said it wasn't important.

Compare a Super Hornet and a Raptor. The performance difference in Information gathering/ISR will be much greater then kinematics. Hence the "least impressive" comment.

How will F-35 fare against 5th generation fighters which will come online over the coming decades that have far superior kinematics than it? That is my point at the end of the day.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

F35 is one of the best tested system ever. IAF would love this platform even if this is even 50% of the original F35 developed by DRDO. No other country does so much testing on it other than USA.

 

[gambit]

How will F-35 fare against 5th generation fighters which will come online over the coming decades that have far superior kinematics than it? That is my point at the end of the day.

So the core of your criticism is that the F-35 is shitty TODAY is because it MIGHT be inferior against '5th-gen' fighters TOMORROW, which may or may not occur. Therefore, countries that have defense needs TODAY should not buy the F-35 and wait for something that may or may not exist tomorrow.

 

[DavidSling]

So the core of your criticism is that the F-35 is shitty TODAY is because it MIGHT be inferior against '5th-gen' fighters TOMORROW, which may or may not occur. Therefore, countries that have defense needs TODAY should not buy the F-35 and wait for something that may or may not exist tomorrow.

By the time those future platform will be released, F35 will have much more advance and mature version while the rest will struggle

 

[F-22Raptor]

How will F-35 fare against 5th generation fighters which will come online over the coming decades that have far superior kinematics than it? That is my point at the end of the day.

What foreign 5th gen aircraft has superior kinematics to the F-35? As recent air shows have proven, certainly not the J-20. Russia is nowhere near ready to field the Su-57. Regardless, situational awareness is far more important in modern warfare these days than kinematics. The F-35's avionics, sensors, and EW suites are superior to any other country. Block 3F software is set to deliver by the end of this year, with Block 4 beginning development next year. The F-35 will see and shoot first almost every time.

By the time those future platform will be released, F35 will have much more advance and mature version while the rest will struggle

The F-35 is actually beginning Block 4 software development next year.

 

[LeGenD]

China with J-20 once they have the 5th generation WS-15 engine ready.

I can see others like Turkey and South Korea with the next 10-15 years also.

J-20 is not an air-superiority combat aircraft. Its design is suitable for fighter-bomber missions.

See my above post directed to @KAL-EL

What kind of performance parameters are you expecting? Agility and close-quarters maneuvering? F-35 has plenty: https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/impressive-maneuvers-of-f-35-paris-air-show-2017.504581/

As for strictly air-to-air engagements: F-35 has virtually unparalleled situational awareness in the battlefield and ability to utilize a wide-range of weapons on top of it.

 

[UKBengali]

J-20 is not an air-superiority combat aircraft. Its design is suitable for fighter-bomber missions.


What kind of performance parameters are you expecting? Agility and close-quarters maneuvering? F-35 has plenty: https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/impressive-maneuvers-of-f-35-paris-air-show-2017.504581/

As for air-to-air engagements: F-35 has virtually unparalleled situational awareness in the battlefield.

Canards say otherwise.

 

[LeGenD]

Canards say otherwise.

Can you provide a link?

A large number of testimonies are from pilots during the testing phase of F-35. In-fact, many pilots are not accustomed to the technical atmosphere that F-35 subjects them to - they appear baffled during their first try.

Putting F-35 to its paces will require extensive training because it can do much more than a human can handle on average. I would like to see testimonies about F-35 in its end-product stage and from experienced pilots. Only then we can understand what it is all about.

 

[UKBengali]

So the core of your criticism is that the F-35 is shitty TODAY is because it MIGHT be inferior against '5th-gen' fighters TOMORROW, which may or may not occur. Therefore, countries that have defense needs TODAY should not buy the F-35 and wait for something that may or may not exist tomorrow.

No it WILL be inferior to fighters that will have an airframe that will allow much better kinematics.
F-22 has superb kinemtics to allow good air-to-air capability.
F-35 is ok if the enemy only has 4th generation fighters.

 

[gambit]

No it WILL be inferior to fighters that will have an airframe that will allow much better kinematics.

Yeah...When will that be ? In the mean time, what do you propose for countries that needs an air force now ? Of course, you would say they should wait...and wait...and wait...

 

[UKBengali]

Yeah...When will that be ? In the mean time, what do you propose for countries that needs an air force now ? Of course, you would say they should wait...and wait...and wait...

They have 4th gen fighters that can do another decade.