AirRodgers
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The F35 is a big mistake according to Pierre SpreyNo, the aspect of F-22 is and ALWAYS will be CAP (Combat Air Patrol) in ground level, we need planes that can drop bombs where required and when required.
First let's talk about why Prolonging the production of F-22 is not right. F-22 is an Air dominance fighter, they are to take care of enemy air threat, yet you don't go drop bombs with F-22. You may think, yeah well, we got F-16 and A-10 for that role.
F-16 is a legacy fighter, not sure how many years they can stay on without costing us too much to maintain them. Prospect is, even F-16 was bar from entering an AO if there are preceived AA/SAM threat, so even if we are talking about insurgent, if there are SAM Alert, then bye bye fast air.
A-10 is a close air support platform that match the ground support with fire power. HOWEVER, there are one major draw back with A-10 - It's speed. Well, they pack a punch, they are durable, they can hold in your sector for longer time, they are slow so they can strafe again and again with enemy position. But what good it does when you need them now and the AFO tell you they are 20 mike away??
Personally called several A-10 Strike on target myself, the waiting is the hardest part. It flew twice as slow as -15 and -16. If they were on the edge of your AO, it will take them 10 mike + more to come in and save you. If you are lucky enough to have one above your head, yeah, then this will be a good thing, but if you don't, then good luck holding the line before the strike came thru.
The Military need aircraft like F-35. Beside, F-35 are not any worse than F-16 (Maybe a bit far off than F-15E, but how many 15E we have in the AF??) When you compare the Stats between F-35 and F-16
Key Figure
Maximum speed (At ALT) - 2 Mach (F-16) 1.6 Mach (F-35)
Combat Radius - 340 nmi (F-16) 540 nmi (F-35)
Wing Loading - 88.3 lb/ft²(F-16) 107.7 lb/ft² (F-35)
Thrust/weight - 1.07 (F-16), 0.87 F-35
And how do you know how F-35 Turn and Climb, they are classified information, do you have access to those??
You know what, my brother was an Engine Engineer with Boeing, but after seeing F-35A demo he too wowed at it. So. I don't know where you get the F-35 is a big mistake from.
As for the combat radius between f16 and F35.. You add a drop tank to an F16 and the range will be different..
As for the F35 putting anything on the wing would defeat its stealth feature so no drop tank or external weapon load.