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.