Evaluating the F-35`s Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses

[rangerrebew]

 
Evaluating the F-35`s Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses
Story by Dave Johnston • 5d
 
The F-35 Fighter Jet represents a significant advancement in military aviation, equipped with state-of-the-art stealth and sensor capabilities. Despite its technological prowess, the aircraft faces ongoing challenges related to reliability and support systems. This exploration into its capabilities and limitations offers a comprehensive look at both the achievements and the areas needing improvement in this cutting-edge fighter.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/evaluating-the-f-35-s-greatest-strengths-and-weaknesses/ss-BB1mR3QF?ocid=widgetonlockscreen&cvid=b9b48a19fa3b4334a3bb7200d553b516&ei=70#image=2

[Timber Rattler]

Except that it can't dogfight...

Can the F-35 Dogfight? That Might End Up Being a Stupid Question

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/can-f-35-dogfight-might-end-being-stupid-question-207764

In 2015, War is Boring obtained a five-page brief about the F-35’s dogfighting abilities. A pilot with first-hand knowledge had written the report – and his insights were unflattering.

“The F-35 was at a distinct energy disadvantage,” the pilot wrote, meaning that the F-35 “can’t turn or climb fast enough to hit an enemy plane during a dogfight or to dodge the enemy’s own gunfire,” War is Boring reported.       

[PeteS in CA]

In 2015, War is Boring obtained a five-page brief about the F-35’s dogfighting abilities. ...

The F-35 in this exercise was a prototype or pilot production plane, not fully functional, and some of its capabilities were switched off. I get that F-35 Bashing is a cottage industry, but bashers really need to move on from this non-valid test.

[Timber Rattler]

The F-35 in this exercise was a prototype or pilot production plane, not fully functional, and some of its capabilities were switched off. I get that F-35 Bashing is a cottage industry, but bashers really need to move on from this non-valid test.

Doesn't seem like anything has changed though?

The Pentagon will have to live with limits on F-35’s supersonic flights

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/04/24/the-pentagon-will-have-to-live-with-limits-on-f-35s-supersonic-flights/


Report: F-35 Struggled With Reliability, Maintainability, Availability in 2023

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/f-35-reliability-maintainability-availability-2023/


Maintenance, repair problems ground F-35 jets 45% of time, report finds

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/10/05/maintenance-repair-problems-ground-f-35-jets-45-of-time-report-finds/


Lockheed’s F-35 Quality Flaws Persist as Production Ramps Up

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-16/lockheed-s-f-35-quality-flaws-persist-as-production-ramps-up

[Hoodat]

Why settle for a one-size-fits-all model when you can have the best of all situations.  If a future F-16 or F-20 prototype can dogfight better than a F-35, then build that prototype.  Just don't replace your entire air fleet with it.  Likewise, if a future F-15 prototype is better at tactical bombing at night than the F-35, then build that prototype.  Just don't replace your entire fleet with that one aircraft.

It's the one-size-fits-all concept of the F-35 that is a stupid idea.  It would be like the US building only one type fighter aircraft in WWII and using that one plane for all missions.  So which one do you choose?  The P-38?  The Grumman Hellcat?  The F-4 Corsair?

Of course Congress will choose the aircraft that dumps more money into their districts and ensures their re-elections.  Which is why the 50-year-old F-16 is still in production.

[Timber Rattler]

Why settle for a one-size-fits-all model when you can have the best of all situations.  If a future F-16 or F-20 prototype can dogfight better than a F-35, then build that prototype.  Just don't replace your entire air fleet with it.  Likewise, if a future F-15 prototype is better at tactical bombing at night than the F-35, then build that prototype.  Just don't replace your entire fleet with that one aircraft.

It's the one-size-fits-all concept of the F-35 that is a stupid idea.  It would be like the US building only one type fighter aircraft in WWII and using that one plane for all missions.  So which one do you choose?  The P-38?  The Grumman Hellcat?  The F-4 Corsair?

Of course Congress will choose the aircraft that dumps more money into their districts and ensures their re-elections.  Which is why the 50-year-old F-16 is still in production.

It's the same stupid mistake that McNamara made back in the 1960s, with the TFX project, which gave us the FB-111.  It was supposed to be a one-size fits all fighter-bomber that was mediocre at everything.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFX_Program

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2004/june/aircraft-couldnt

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/tfx.htm