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Science
US Air Force declares F-35A fighter jet 'combat ready'
2016-08-04
Posted by:Glish Creretch4732

#7  I have seen a completed F-35B.

Someone's lego project at the Fair.

I kid, I know they are doing 35b trials and are coming along, but this kid's lego was A+ state blue work.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2016-08-04 14:19  

#6  SPOD the f-35A carries a 25 mm GAU/22A which is kept in the air frame until needed.

The F-35b and f-35c carry pod mounted guns as necessary. Contrast to the F-22 with a wing root 20mm of 400 round.

Now As far As I can tell this the last gun kill by the USAF

15 February 1991 Edit
USAF A-10A vs. IRAF Mi-8 Edit
An A-10A ground attack aircraft shoots down an Iraqi Mi-8 helicopter with its GAU-8 30mm cannon.[2]

An A-10 shot down a helicopter.

Now if you want to reopen The SkyRaider assembly line just say so, many guns, lotta booms, long loiter time, albeit a sitting duck, and it is even more primitive than the A-10! And to make it even sweeter they are known MIG Killers. Ever see what 4 20 mm guns can do? Hell yes! A no brainer, dump the F-35s except those several hundred that are being bought by allies and offer them cheaper Skyraiders.. Foo.
Posted by: Shipman   2016-08-04 13:21  

#5  As you know, tracer fire works both ways. How about missile fire? Are those missiles stealthy? Do they have a detectable exhaust trail?
Posted by: gorb   2016-08-04 11:21  

#4  it all depends on what your definition of combat is...the new generation of weapons wizards in the USAF are back at the old tenets of dog fighting with missiles at 100 miles and close air support from 20000 feet with smart bombs and smarter airplanes...unfortunately, the F-35 is dumb as a stump and the video game version of war will get hundreds of pilots killed.

The Russians put GUNS on all of their nifty fighters, almost heretical in Washington
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2016-08-04 10:33  

#3  Is there a corrosion resistant, carrier capable Navy version?
Posted by: Skidmark   2016-08-04 09:44  

#2  How many asterisks were after that statement?
Posted by: DarthVader   2016-08-04 09:00  

#1  We'll see how the ChiCom's vote on this.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy   2016-08-04 08:12  

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