The Air Force Knows Why the F-35 Stealth Fighter Will Own the Skies
The Air Force is becoming increasingly confident that the F-35 could destroy Russian and Chinese 5th-generation stealth fighters in combat.
Here s What You Need To Remember: This can be explained in terms of a well-known Air Force strategic concept pioneered years ago by air theorist and pilot Col. John Boyd, referred to as the OODA Loop, - for observe, orient, decide and act. The concept is to complete this process quickly and make fast decisions while in an air-to-air dogfight in order to get inside the enemy s decision cycle, properly anticipate, and destroy an enemy before they can destroy you.
Case Closed: The F-35 Is the Stealth Fighter the U.S. Military Needs
Abandoning the F-35 now would be a huge mistake that would set back U.S. and Allied airpower. And only Russia and China would benefit.
The F-35 stealth fighter jet has had quite a trajectory over a period of many years, including substantial ups and downs marked by some breakthrough successes such as new weapons integration, performance enhancing software upgrades, wargame performance, favorable pilot reviews, growing global demand and some measure of initial combat success.
As part of this multi-year developmental maturation, there have also been some developmental hurdles including computer glitches, technical maturation hiccups and a one-time engine malfunction. Of course, the largest criticism over the years has been cost.
P&W to Make Engines for F-35 Block 4 Development, Testing Our Bureau 2431
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighter
The U.S. Department of Defense announced a $49.2 million contract to Pratt and Whitney (P&W) to manufacture engines for F-35 Lightning II Block 4 fighter aircraft.
This contract provides for one conventional take-off and landing and two short take-off/vertical landing F135 engines to support F-35 Lightning II Block Four developmental testing program, a U.S. DoD release said.
The U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35Bs and the Navy’s catapult-launched F-35Cs will receive incremental Block 4 upgrades (Block 4.1, 4.2, and onwards) in the coming months. The Block 4 upgrades will include faster computers, more missiles, panoramic cockpit display, longer ranges, and AI-flown wingmen (such as the XQ-58A “Valkyrie.”
Washington wants to connect with its allies and share data in real time.
What if Korean, Japanese, Australian, and U.S. F-35s, fighter jets, drones along with Navy surface ships could all track Chinese activities throughout the Pacific, all while sharing information in near real-time?
Chinese war preparation drills near Taiwan, carrier excursions into the South China Sea, bomber patrols, or flight intercepts off the Japanese coast might all be found, seen, and analyzed far and wide in previously impossible ways. Just how far along are the United States and its network of Pacific theater allies in bringing this kind of tactical vision to life?