LONG DRAWN OUT FART SOUND
As someone who used to direct live fighter aircraft in support of our boots on the ground, I can tell you that the F-35 is even less useful than a pair of F-16 lawn darts. The thing is a turd with way too many limitations on employment. Give me more gas and more munitions or GTFO.
The F35 is almost like the bradley fighting vehicle. They loaded it with so much overly complex tech and "stealth" it really can't do anything on its own. They have to pair up old F15's with the F35's to engage anything effectively.
What we wanted was the next generation A-10 that was promised. Instead the corrupt acquisitions bureaucracy shat out the F-35 and tried to hold it up as spectacular.
I have some brilliant news for you. Part of Trump's rebuilding of the military was putting F22 and F35 technology into older, proven platforms like the F15, F16, and F/A18, making them far more deadly/robust in the air while being familiar and accessible to a larger and more experienced audience of pilots.
In short, I completely agree. I think that these older and proven platforms have earned their stripes and can serve their functions cost effectively by means of new technology being integrated in. An A-10 costs, what, $250k to manufacture? An F35C costs $35m. Do you really need an F35 to blow up a building made of mud and rocks? Or can you spend a few bucks to upgrade that old Warthog with a few touchscreens and stealth paint so it can fly a few more years?
LONG DRAWN OUT FART SOUND As someone who used to direct live fighter aircraft in support of our boots on the ground, I can tell you that the F-35 is even less useful than a pair of F-16 lawn darts. The thing is a turd with way too many limitations on employment. Give me more gas and more munitions or GTFO.
The F35 is almost like the bradley fighting vehicle. They loaded it with so much overly complex tech and "stealth" it really can't do anything on its own. They have to pair up old F15's with the F35's to engage anything effectively.
What we wanted was the next generation A-10 that was promised. Instead the corrupt acquisitions bureaucracy shat out the F-35 and tried to hold it up as spectacular.
I have some brilliant news for you. Part of Trump's rebuilding of the military was putting F22 and F35 technology into older, proven platforms like the F15, F16, and F/A18, making them far more deadly/robust in the air while being familiar and accessible to a larger and more experienced audience of pilots.
F15ex https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/boeings-new-f-15ex-fighter-one-dangerous-jet-171628
F/A18 Super Hornet https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/09/block-iii-f-a-18-super-hornet-why-the-u-s-navy-loves-this-new-fighter/
F21 (F16) https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=2100
In short, I completely agree. I think that these older and proven platforms have earned their stripes and can serve their functions cost effectively by means of new technology being integrated in. An A-10 costs, what, $250k to manufacture? An F35C costs $35m. Do you really need an F35 to blow up a building made of mud and rocks? Or can you spend a few bucks to upgrade that old Warthog with a few touchscreens and stealth paint so it can fly a few more years?
TL;DR, plz giv mor BRRRRRRT