65th Aggressor Squadron (65th AGRS) to be Reactivated... For Early F-35s

[JosefK]

From The Drive... and clearly should give @kblomkvist ideas:

The Drive: F-35 Aggressor Squadron To Be Activated At Nellis Air Force Base

Quote

 

China's stealth fighter is operational—or semi-operational depending on who you ask—and they have another in flight testing, as well as two stealth bombers deep in development, and are working on a number of stealth drones. Russia's less stealthy, but still advanced Su-57 fighter is now being pitched to anyone with the hard cash to participate in the program and Moscow is also looking to stealthy drones when it comes to future air combat capabilities. This is nothing to be said of stealthy cruise missiles, which are easier to develop or procure and employ. 

So yes, the USAF needs a new aggressor platform to help replicate these emerging threats and possibly using a handful of old stealth aircraft and newer stealthy target drones will not do the trick alone. The F-35, on the other hand, will, and much, much more. 

 

The whole article is worth a read.  The plan is to seriously retrofit early F-35As that could never see combat.

[kblomkvist]

That's worth a try, thanks for the heads-up 

[+Coupi]

Times are changing... 

[bazillius]

I believe Su-57 will stay only in game. I think the chance is BIG. Sanktions will bury this beautiful shaped aircraft and if it happens it will be nice. ) This Aircraft is semi-dead already.

[JosefK]

8 hours ago, kblomkvist said:

That's worth a try, thanks for the heads-up 

You are certainly welcome....

1 hour ago, bazillius said:

I believe Su-57 will stay only in game. I think the chance is BIG. Sanktions will bury this beautiful shaped aircraft and if it happens it will be nice. ) This Aircraft is semi-dead already.

I hope you're right and it looks likely the Russians will be stuck trying to figure out how to sell opponents of my America very unstealthy Flankers and Fulcrums to go up against F-35 "Panthers"...