Comments

You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name

Your e-mail (optional)

Website (optional)

	My Original Nic Pic-a-Nic Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Foto

Submit your comments on this article

Home Front: WoT

We Have Proof the U.S. Air Force Watered Down the F-35 to Avoid Embarrassment

2015-09-14

But there was a catch. By the Air Force's own reckoning, the F-35A with Block 3i software wouldn't be able to fight in the most dangerous environments without unacceptable risk to its pilots. Where before the Air Force required that its Initial Operational Capability F-35s be capable of offensive air-to-air missions and the suppression of enemy air defenses in a heavily opposed "anti-access" environment, under the new planning the initial F-35s would be suitable only for "basic" close air support and other ground-attack missions and "limited" defense-suppression -- and none of it in anti-access airspace.

To meet a deadline that Congress found acceptable, the Air Force decided to debut F-35s that it knew full well wouldn't actually be combat-ready in any meaningful sense of the term. In May 2013, the flying branch submitted its F-35 IOC date to Congress and then, according to the history, "began the tense wait to see if the JSF program could fulfill its promises over the next three years."

Posted by:Blossom Unains5562

#12 Betty Hitler2611=UI (Unintelligable BS)

Posted by: BrerRabbit 2015-09-14 20:06

#11 unknowledgeable

Posted by: Betty Hitler2611 2015-09-14 19:07

#10 Axe is an knowledgeable "journalist" who wouldn't know which end of an aircraft sucks or blows. But he did find a niche in the WWW catering to wasted minds like him. This is hipster douchebag clickbait. Don't become a hipster douchebag and don't support one by clicking though.

Posted by: Betty Hitler2611 2015-09-14 19:06

#9 When they find neural networks flying the drones they're FUBARed.

Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2015-09-14 18:52

#8 Anon1, Is there a case of third world pilots outfighting a first world pilot, even using a superior plan? Typically the third world training is lacking. Of course they might find Russians flying the planes, that seems to happen from time to time.

Posted by: rjschwarz 2015-09-14 11:23

#7 This is the same crap criticism that occurred in the 1980's regarding the f-15, f-16, f-18, m-1 tank, and m-2/3 bradley. After a sort through process with the first units, they all achieved their goals. The war is boring guy is following in the the footsteps of that 1980's thru 2000 magpie Pierre _ who bad mouthed every defense product that the US came up with.

Posted by: Zebulon Sforza9322 2015-09-14 11:14

#6 To make a long story short, this guy told lies and half-truths the last time around, why are y'all so eager to believe and repeat it this time around?

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2015-09-14 09:12

#5 Oh, and look! They have a nice new David Axe article to repeat the lies of to me.

As far as I know he never responded to the criticisms re: that engine power was hobbled in software during the tests he cited as 'proof' that it couldn't dogfight.

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2015-09-14 09:06

#4 Oh. The lying assholes are back. Hi guys!

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2015-09-14 09:02

#3 You need to understand.
The F-35 isn't an aircraft per se: it's a procurement and employment package. Money-to go.

Posted by: ed in texas 2015-09-14 07:55

#2 australia is worried because we said we would buy a stack of these turkeys

but indonesia to our north - a muslim nation of 250 million + people and expansionist ideas - has ordered the more effective russian made sukhois

and the sukhois are cheaper so they are buying more

so they will control our northern airspace by 2020

Posted by: anon1 2015-09-14 07:41

#1 suitable only for "basic" close air support and other ground-attack missions and "limited" defense-suppression -- and none of it in anti-access airspace.

*cough*A-10*cough*

Posted by: SteveS 2015-09-14 03:07

00:01