33rd Fighter Wing Gets First F-35

[+ST0RM 145]

In relation to the gun, you guys are thinking only of one arena, A-to-A. The A-to-G gun has proven very useful in the current campaign, where strafing has been utilized quite frequently.

 

 

Anyway, the F-35 could take some weapons off bays, i don´t know, however, how harmful for their stealth would be carrying a couple of AIM-9Xs

 

Yes, once you start hanging stuff on the wings, the RCS goes up, as does fuel consumption. And our current tankers don't have warning or defensive systems. So aux tanks are a must for duration missions.

 

-S

[+daddyairplanes 10,281]

And our current tankers don't have warning or defensive systems. So aux tanks are a must for duration missions.

 

-S

damn with the known history of the tanker fleet going into harms way to save a struggling fighter you would think they would give you guys at least a decent rwr set. yes its not something encouraged but its also been documented as happening..

[TX3RN0BILL 3]

Well, in one argument on the F-15 (or conversely, the Flanker) being better than the F-35, is that the F-15 and Flanker can both outrun the F-35, when both enemies are out of ammo. Oh, and ramming tactics? F-15 and Flanker have higher survivability!!

Edited July 18, 2011 by TX3RN0BILL

[JediMaster 451]

The F/A-18 can't do Mach 2 and has never had to, so I don't think that's a big concern.

[Derk 265]

one arguement for the step down crazyhorse... less rounds. it runs off the premise that it needs less munitions because what it uses will be more accurately placed. kinda suck tho if say we go up against the chinese and their first aerial wave is old mig-21s to get us to shoot our missles then send the J-20s. those air forces with red stars have a funny tendency not to get rid of stuff....

 

 

Red Storm Rising all over.......

 

Houdoe,

 

Derk

[+streakeagle 871]

When an F-4 unit converted to the F-16, no doubt, they were excited. The F-16 was cutting edge. More maneuverable than even the mighty F-15. But we didn't buy the F-16 because it was the best solution. We bought it because the preferred solution, the F-15, was too expensive to replace all of the F-4s. The top unit in Vietnam was the 555. They didn't go from F-4 to the winner of the lightweight fighter program. They were honored with the F-15. Countries that has budgetary limitations bought the F-16. Those that had money, bought the F-15... now extend this to the present. The F-22 IS the modern F-15. The USAF attempt to build a fighter that could go undefeated in air-to-air combat for as many years as the F-15 has. The F-35 IS the F16... the other plane that the rest of the world is buying because it is smaller and cheaper. Will pilots flying F-15s that are falling apart from age and dishonest subcontractors be happy to get F-35s? Of course. But only a chosen few will get the F-22. That is my point, which has nothing to do with how much better an F-35 is than an F-15 rather than how F-15 pilots would feel getting F-35s instead of F-22s, as the F-35s were meant to replace F-16 bomb trucks and F-22s were meant to replace the Ego drivers' rides.

[+Gocad 26]

Seriously?

[tflash 3]

Streakeagle, I'm not sure. When these fighters were designed in the nineties of a now forelorn millennium, indeed the F-22 was the supposed F-15 replacement and the F-35 the F-16 follow-on.

But we are now 2011 and the game has played out quite differently. Honestly, the F-22 is at its best while grounded: saving taxpayers' money at an incredible rate. Since no one really came to play its game, it is in search of a true mission. What is worse: it lacks true network integration with other assets, has no optical systems (often required for ROE) and proves very hard and costly to upgrade. An F-16 MLU can carry AIM-9X + JHMCS, to name a few things. The F-22 carries yesterdays missiles.

 

The F-35 is no longer the sustainable, affordable fighter it was meant to be either. Instead, it has become the technological flagship of the day, including technology on average 10 to 15 years more recent that F-22. And what is even better, in the F-35 you will actually be at the front row in any future conflict, while the F-22 has been sidelined during 3 wars already.

 

My guess is the top pilots will want a seat in the hottest fighter in town, the F-35.