4 ms·

I have very little doubt the F-35s will excel in combat, largely based on this article: https://theaviationist.com/2016/12/08/four-of-the-most-experienced-usmc

I have very little doubt the F-35s will excel in combat, largely based on this article: https://theaviationist.com/2016/12/08/four-of-the-most-experienced-usmc-f-35b-pilots-speak-about-their-aircraft-and-they-say-its-exceptional/ https://theaviationist.com/2016/12/08/four-of-the-most-exper... I think this quote from a Marine F-35B pilot regarding an exercise pretty well says it all: "I was leading a four ship of F-35s on a strike against 4th Gen adversaries, F-16s and F/A-18s. We fought our way in, we mapped the target, found the target, dropped JDAMs on the target and turned around and fought our way out. All the targets got hit, nobody got detected, and all the adversaries died. I thought, yes, this works, very, very, very well. Never detected, nobody had any idea we were out there." The F-35B in particular is an amazing piece of engineering, and a vast improvement over any other STOVL aircraft.

rbanffy 9y ago
"against 4th Gen adversaries, F-16s and F/A-18s" is the important part here.
- JumpCrisscross 9y ago
  > "against 4th Gen adversaries, F-16s and F/A-18s" is the important part here Pardon me for my ignorance, why is that important? (My impression was "4th Gen adversaries" characterizes most, if not all, of the F-35's present adversaries.)
  - justicezyx 9y ago
    He is talking about China and Russia.
  - jessriedel 9y ago
    I'm not sure, but the idea might be that tests against (current gen) Russian and Chinese fighters are more important than tests against other American fighters. The F-35 has presumably had much more experience with the latter during development.
- Accipitriform 9y ago
  The claim is that the Chinese J-20 is "ready for mass production" and "combat ready", but the reality is likely different. It's also not at all clear how good are the stealth characteristics of the J-20. From the Wikipedia article on the J-20: "In October 2017, Chinese state media reported that the designs of J-20 had been finalized, and is ready for mass production as well as combat-ready." ...however... "As of March 2017 there are still a series of technical problems that need to be tackled, including the reliability of its WS-15 engines, [the aircraft's flight] control system, stealth coatings and hull materials, and infrared sensor." The Russian Su-57 is equally questionable: "In December 2014, the Russian Air Force planned to receive 55 fighters by 2020.[41] Yuri Borisov, Russia's deputy minister of defence for armaments stated in 2015 that the Air Force would slow production and reduce its initial order to 12 fighters and retain large fleets of fourth-generation fighters due to the nation's economy." Both China and Russia are almost entirely dependent on their 4th Gen fighters at this point, and I expect the F-22 and F-35 will easily handle the J-20 if necessary. Regardless, 99.99% of potential adversaries are 4th Gen.
  - wrg91237 9y ago
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengdu_J-20 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengdu_J-20 "At least six J-20s are in active service, with tail numbers 78271-78276 identified. Another six were believed ready to be delivered by end of Dec 2016.[86] On 9 March 2017, Chinese officials confirmed that the J-20 had entered service in the Chinese air force. In September 2017, the J-20 officially entered military service with PLAAF, making China the second country in the world after United States wielding fifth-generation stealth aircraft, and the first in Asia.[87][87][88][16] In January 2018, Chinese media reports that J-20 is in full operation-ready deployment.[89]" https://www.economist.com/news/china/21737074-some-technologies-it-has-surpassed-it-china-will-soon-have-air-power-rivalling-wests https://www.economist.com/news/china/21737074-some-technolog... "in two years’ time, if not before, America is likely to lose its monopoly of radar-beating stealth combat aircraft with the introduction into service of China’s Chengdu J-20. This has a much longer range than America’s new F-35 fighter and will be a serious threat to American warships in the Pacific." "Another system, yet to be named, would provide China with an ability to knock out targets as far away as 400km, a far greater range than any other air-to-air weapon in service. It would threaten aircraft that currently operate safely from a considerable distance, such as tankers and planes used for airborne surveillance and control. "
- varjag 9y ago
  I.e. against pretty much anything anyone else can field.

rbanffy 9y ago

"against 4th Gen adversaries, F-16s and F/A-18s" is the important part here.

JumpCrisscross 9y ago
> "against 4th Gen adversaries, F-16s and F/A-18s" is the important part here Pardon me for my ignorance, why is that important? (My impression was "4th Gen adversaries" characterizes most, if not all, of the F-35's present adversaries.)
- justicezyx 9y ago
  He is talking about China and Russia.
- jessriedel 9y ago
  I'm not sure, but the idea might be that tests against (current gen) Russian and Chinese fighters are more important than tests against other American fighters. The F-35 has presumably had much more experience with the latter during development.
Accipitriform 9y ago
The claim is that the Chinese J-20 is "ready for mass production" and "combat ready", but the reality is likely different. It's also not at all clear how good are the stealth characteristics of the J-20. From the Wikipedia article on the J-20: "In October 2017, Chinese state media reported that the designs of J-20 had been finalized, and is ready for mass production as well as combat-ready." ...however... "As of March 2017 there are still a series of technical problems that need to be tackled, including the reliability of its WS-15 engines, [the aircraft's flight] control system, stealth coatings and hull materials, and infrared sensor." The Russian Su-57 is equally questionable: "In December 2014, the Russian Air Force planned to receive 55 fighters by 2020.[41] Yuri Borisov, Russia's deputy minister of defence for armaments stated in 2015 that the Air Force would slow production and reduce its initial order to 12 fighters and retain large fleets of fourth-generation fighters due to the nation's economy." Both China and Russia are almost entirely dependent on their 4th Gen fighters at this point, and I expect the F-22 and F-35 will easily handle the J-20 if necessary. Regardless, 99.99% of potential adversaries are 4th Gen.
- wrg91237 9y ago
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengdu_J-20 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengdu_J-20 "At least six J-20s are in active service, with tail numbers 78271-78276 identified. Another six were believed ready to be delivered by end of Dec 2016.[86] On 9 March 2017, Chinese officials confirmed that the J-20 had entered service in the Chinese air force. In September 2017, the J-20 officially entered military service with PLAAF, making China the second country in the world after United States wielding fifth-generation stealth aircraft, and the first in Asia.[87][87][88][16] In January 2018, Chinese media reports that J-20 is in full operation-ready deployment.[89]" https://www.economist.com/news/china/21737074-some-technologies-it-has-surpassed-it-china-will-soon-have-air-power-rivalling-wests https://www.economist.com/news/china/21737074-some-technolog... "in two years’ time, if not before, America is likely to lose its monopoly of radar-beating stealth combat aircraft with the introduction into service of China’s Chengdu J-20. This has a much longer range than America’s new F-35 fighter and will be a serious threat to American warships in the Pacific." "Another system, yet to be named, would provide China with an ability to knock out targets as far away as 400km, a far greater range than any other air-to-air weapon in service. It would threaten aircraft that currently operate safely from a considerable distance, such as tankers and planes used for airborne surveillance and control. "
varjag 9y ago
I.e. against pretty much anything anyone else can field.