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I worked on the Boeing-Sikorsky Comanche helicopter. That aircraft was also intended to be a multi-role aircraft, intended to provide stealthy armed reconnaissa

I worked on the Boeing-Sikorsky Comanche helicopter. That aircraft was also intended to be a multi-role aircraft, intended to provide stealthy armed reconnaissance and attack roles. The project was canceled after investing approximately $7 billion. Multi-role aircraft are intended to save money, and it sounds like a good idea. You save money training pilots and ground crew. You save money with parts, support equipment and logistics. Unfortunately, the multi-role aircraft don't do the individual roles as well as aircraft designed specifically for the individual roles. I have yet to be convinced that the F-35 will be able to do close air support as well as the A-10. When you put together the Marine Corps, the Navy and the Air Force requirements, it's really hard to come up with a multi-role aircraft that does each role well.

Accipitriform 8y ago
To be fair, each service has its own variant. That's increased cost, but each service should have aircraft that'll work well for the individual service's requirements. The F-15, F-16, and F-18 are all multi-role aircraft, and are fairly unarguably the world's best in their categories. There's no reason to think the F-35 won't be in the same class. As to the A-10, I believe the F-35's primary ground support approach will be from pretty high altitude, using smart weapons. That kind of approach will even work against first-tier opponents. If you need "low and slow" close air support while shooting up the enemy with cannon, the Apache seems a better fit. The AC-130 is somewhere in between...note recent AC-130 variants have been getting longer and longer range weapons to decrease vulnerability to MANPADS.
InclinedPlane 8y ago
The F-35 is not a multi-role aircraft, period. It is at best a platform, but there is only about 30% commonality between the different aircraft variants (A, B, and C).
jsmith99 8y ago
In German they call such a thing eierlegende Wollmilchsau (legendary egg-laying wool-milk-sow). Ultimate example is the Airbus A400M.

Accipitriform 8y ago

To be fair, each service has its own variant. That's increased cost, but each service should have aircraft that'll work well for the individual service's requirements. The F-15, F-16, and F-18 are all multi-role aircraft, and are fairly unarguably the world's best in their categories. There's no reason to think the F-35 won't be in the same class. As to the A-10, I believe the F-35's primary ground support approach will be from pretty high altitude, using smart weapons. That kind of approach will even work against first-tier opponents. If you need "low and slow" close air support while shooting up the enemy with cannon, the Apache seems a better fit. The AC-130 is somewhere in between...note recent AC-130 variants have been getting longer and longer range weapons to decrease vulnerability to MANPADS.

InclinedPlane 8y ago

The F-35 is not a multi-role aircraft, period. It is at best a platform, but there is only about 30% commonality between the different aircraft variants (A, B, and C).

jsmith99 8y ago

In German they call such a thing eierlegende Wollmilchsau (legendary egg-laying wool-milk-sow). Ultimate example is the Airbus A400M.