3 ms·

I think the narrative that it needn't be an air superiority fighter came later (I.e. they changed the requirements when they realized it would not be competitiv

I think the narrative that it needn't be an air superiority fighter came later (I.e. they changed the requirements when they realized it would not be competitive in practice). iirc it was originally intended to be an air superiority fighter. Consider this line from the wikipedia F-35 entry "intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions."

alecfreudenberg 4y ago
primarily air command, leveraging the sensor suite to operate non air-to-air tasks. it's an advanced systems ship that can use information and agility to complete most missions that don't involve pushing peak gs, velocity and circle radius.
greedo 4y ago
F-35 was spawned from the JAST initiative coming out of the Pentagon's Bottom up review. It was designed to replace the F-16, A-10, Harrier, as well as the F/A-18C and D models. It was no more an air superiority fighter than the F-16. Would it be expect to be able to fight if needed? Sure, just like a Falcon would, but that wasn't it's primary mission/role. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jast.htm https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jas...
greedo 4y ago
Ah, missed the edit window. Just because someone writes it in Wikipedia doesn't make it accurate. The concept of an air superiority fighter really started with the F-15 Eagle (its contemporary, the F-14 was really a fleet defender designed around the AWG-9 radar and Phoenix missile system). When the F-22 was developed, it was so far ahead of anything that USAF started referring to it as an "air supremacy" fighter that would treat opposing aircraft by "clubbing baby seals." That's how easy it would be for the F-22... The confusion lies in the origins of the F-16. It was intended to be a daylight fighter with only short range missiles and guns, and highly maneuverable. Sprey and clan wanted a cheap fighter that could be built in mass. The life of the Falcon turned out quite different, and despite it being highly maneuverable, it was matched by other aircraft of the time (F/A-18, Fulcrum). Though it is one sexy bird. But most USAF planning viewed the F-16 as a bomb truck (replacing the A-7) that could "swing" to help out in A2A if things got too hot. And eventually the F-16 became quite good at its strike mission, as well as SEAD/DEAD and even CAS once LANTIRN and Litening pods were wide spread. This is the role the F-35 is intended to replace; the view is that NO non-stealthy aircraft can perform these roles in a contested environment with a near-peer opponent. And I think Ukraine is proving this out well...

alecfreudenberg 4y ago

primarily air command, leveraging the sensor suite to operate non air-to-air tasks. it's an advanced systems ship that can use information and agility to complete most missions that don't involve pushing peak gs, velocity and circle radius.

greedo 4y ago

F-35 was spawned from the JAST initiative coming out of the Pentagon's Bottom up review. It was designed to replace the F-16, A-10, Harrier, as well as the F/A-18C and D models. It was no more an air superiority fighter than the F-16. Would it be expect to be able to fight if needed? Sure, just like a Falcon would, but that wasn't it's primary mission/role. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jast.htm https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jas...

greedo 4y ago

Ah, missed the edit window. Just because someone writes it in Wikipedia doesn't make it accurate. The concept of an air superiority fighter really started with the F-15 Eagle (its contemporary, the F-14 was really a fleet defender designed around the AWG-9 radar and Phoenix missile system). When the F-22 was developed, it was so far ahead of anything that USAF started referring to it as an "air supremacy" fighter that would treat opposing aircraft by "clubbing baby seals." That's how easy it would be for the F-22... The confusion lies in the origins of the F-16. It was intended to be a daylight fighter with only short range missiles and guns, and highly maneuverable. Sprey and clan wanted a cheap fighter that could be built in mass. The life of the Falcon turned out quite different, and despite it being highly maneuverable, it was matched by other aircraft of the time (F/A-18, Fulcrum). Though it is one sexy bird. But most USAF planning viewed the F-16 as a bomb truck (replacing the A-7) that could "swing" to help out in A2A if things got too hot. And eventually the F-16 became quite good at its strike mission, as well as SEAD/DEAD and even CAS once LANTIRN and Litening pods were wide spread. This is the role the F-35 is intended to replace; the view is that NO non-stealthy aircraft can perform these roles in a contested environment with a near-peer opponent. And I think Ukraine is proving this out well...