3 ms·

I spend a lot of time at The Warzone (https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone) and the F-35 is now almost unanimously consid

I spend a lot of time at The Warzone (https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone) and the F-35 is now almost unanimously considered a resounding success. Rocky start sure, and at the time it was thought to be too costly. Fast forward in time, and with production going well(1), customers lining up(2,3) and deploying(4), this platform looks now to be a very smart investment. 1- https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/the-1000th-f-35-has-been-built https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/the-1000th-f-35-has-be... 2- https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/romania-unveils-plan-to-buy-f-35s https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/romania-unveils-plan-t... 3- https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/10362/germany-might-join-the-f-35-program https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/10362/germany-might-jo... 4- https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/royal-navy-activates-first-f-35b-unit-big-decisions-on-types-future-loom https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/royal-navy-activates-f...

belter 3y ago
Those customers had almost no option. Now the platform still needs to be tested in combat. Bombing runs on terrorist camps do not count.
- josefresco 3y ago
  You mean like this? https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/israels-f-35i-combat-experience-is-providing-lessons-for-future-pacific-fight https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/israels-f-35i-combat-e... Or maybe this: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/israeli-f-35-shoots-down-cruise-missile https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/israeli-f-35-shoots-do... These are "top level weapons systems", not deployed unless you are okay with your enemy collecting data on your strike. Don't expect the F-35 to be deployed for routine missions when the older platforms (F-16) are still so dominant and also selling well: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/turkish-f-16-deal-now-being-fast-tracked-by-biden-admin https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/turkish-f-16-deal-now-... https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36296/new-f-16s-will-all-be-sold-in-a-single-baseline-configuration-with-a-standardized-price https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36296/new-f-16s-will-a... The F-35 is truly a next generation warfighting platform (not just fighter/bomber) that will only get better/more capable as combat sorties are logged and the "loyal wingman" program evolves.
  - NotSammyHagar 3y ago
    I recently saw an article, maybe at the thedrive that was about F35s in Norway practicing landing, refueling, taking off on roads, I think aimed at a dispersal program where in a way they wouldn't have to land at only airbases. Found it https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/09/25/lockheed-fighter-jets-highway https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/09/25/lockheed-fighter-j...
quanto 3y ago
Indeed, the public's tune on F-35 has changed to positive. How much was due to actual improvements in operations and manufacturing versus change of perception, i.e. media no longer blasting perceived failures of then-nascent project?
- josefresco 3y ago
  A lot of hard work has been put into refining the F-35. I'd say it's a mix of both. The "fixes" weren't trusted until we saw deployment, sales, and sorties!
  - quanto 3y ago
    That's my impression as well: the F-35 program materially improved, but it also helps that the media no longer calls it a trillion dollar failure.
- ianburrell 3y ago
  I think part of the problem with F-35 was that it took a long time to be developed. First flight was in 2006 and entered service 2015 to 2019. That is a long time to be paying for plane that can't see. I think entering service with foreign countries and the price dropping with full production is what caused it to be accepted.
  - jiggawatts 3y ago
    One hilarious side effect of this protracted timeline is that its central computer is about as powerful as a Pentium 1 from the 1990s. Not to worry: it’s being upgraded this year to a computer as powerful as the SoC in the first generation Apple Watch. “Flying supercomputer” indeed…

belter 3y ago

Those customers had almost no option. Now the platform still needs to be tested in combat. Bombing runs on terrorist camps do not count.

josefresco 3y ago
You mean like this? https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/israels-f-35i-combat-experience-is-providing-lessons-for-future-pacific-fight https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/israels-f-35i-combat-e... Or maybe this: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/israeli-f-35-shoots-down-cruise-missile https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/israeli-f-35-shoots-do... These are "top level weapons systems", not deployed unless you are okay with your enemy collecting data on your strike. Don't expect the F-35 to be deployed for routine missions when the older platforms (F-16) are still so dominant and also selling well: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/turkish-f-16-deal-now-being-fast-tracked-by-biden-admin https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/turkish-f-16-deal-now-... https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36296/new-f-16s-will-all-be-sold-in-a-single-baseline-configuration-with-a-standardized-price https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36296/new-f-16s-will-a... The F-35 is truly a next generation warfighting platform (not just fighter/bomber) that will only get better/more capable as combat sorties are logged and the "loyal wingman" program evolves.
- NotSammyHagar 3y ago
  I recently saw an article, maybe at the thedrive that was about F35s in Norway practicing landing, refueling, taking off on roads, I think aimed at a dispersal program where in a way they wouldn't have to land at only airbases. Found it https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/09/25/lockheed-fighter-jets-highway https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/09/25/lockheed-fighter-j...

quanto 3y ago

Indeed, the public's tune on F-35 has changed to positive. How much was due to actual improvements in operations and manufacturing versus change of perception, i.e. media no longer blasting perceived failures of then-nascent project?

josefresco 3y ago
A lot of hard work has been put into refining the F-35. I'd say it's a mix of both. The "fixes" weren't trusted until we saw deployment, sales, and sorties!
- quanto 3y ago
  That's my impression as well: the F-35 program materially improved, but it also helps that the media no longer calls it a trillion dollar failure.
ianburrell 3y ago
I think part of the problem with F-35 was that it took a long time to be developed. First flight was in 2006 and entered service 2015 to 2019. That is a long time to be paying for plane that can't see. I think entering service with foreign countries and the price dropping with full production is what caused it to be accepted.
- jiggawatts 3y ago
  One hilarious side effect of this protracted timeline is that its central computer is about as powerful as a Pentium 1 from the 1990s. Not to worry: it’s being upgraded this year to a computer as powerful as the SoC in the first generation Apple Watch. “Flying supercomputer” indeed…