Posted on Mar 3, 2023
Will the F-35 ever become the primary fighter jet it was supposed to be?
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The costliest, most advanced U.S. fighter jet in history is flying less than a plane developed during the Reagan administration.
There’s little dispute that the F-35 Lightning II, which is flown with modifications by the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, can be a devastatingly effective weapon when it’s available.
But five years after joining the fleet on a regular basis, the Air Force F-35A is flying fewer hours per month than the F-15E Strike Eagle, which was first introduced in 1986, a recent report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found.
There’s little dispute that the F-35 Lightning II, which is flown with modifications by the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, can be a devastatingly effective weapon when it’s available.
But five years after joining the fleet on a regular basis, the Air Force F-35A is flying fewer hours per month than the F-15E Strike Eagle, which was first introduced in 1986, a recent report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found.
Will the F-35 ever become the primary fighter jet it was supposed to be?
Posted from stripes.com
Airplanes
F-35
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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IMHO...several factors that weren't taken into consideration.
1. Cost per flying hour - Most fighter wings with these jets also have the AT-38. Not a combat airplane but F-35 and F-22 pilots are proficient inboth. The reason is that they can train Tactics, Techniques, and procedures (TTP's) in an older airframe on multiple sorties and hop in this jet and apply those TTP's with this jets capabilities. For cost it is a win win. Fot training it is ok as we use the T-38 in fighter fundamentals anyway.
2. They compared the F-35 to the F-15E...the F15E is the air to ground fighter and the F-35 is a multi role fighter. The F15E is a hugely capable and battle proven airframe for air to ground and well, is a little more expendable than the F35.
3. As far as it being the premier fighter it was supposed to be...I don't know as it was to play off the F-16, F-15, and the F-22...each bringing their own uniques skillsets to the fight. It was never intended to be the sole replacement for all fighters.
Again, this is only my opinion.
Cheers,
Scott
1. Cost per flying hour - Most fighter wings with these jets also have the AT-38. Not a combat airplane but F-35 and F-22 pilots are proficient inboth. The reason is that they can train Tactics, Techniques, and procedures (TTP's) in an older airframe on multiple sorties and hop in this jet and apply those TTP's with this jets capabilities. For cost it is a win win. Fot training it is ok as we use the T-38 in fighter fundamentals anyway.
2. They compared the F-35 to the F-15E...the F15E is the air to ground fighter and the F-35 is a multi role fighter. The F15E is a hugely capable and battle proven airframe for air to ground and well, is a little more expendable than the F35.
3. As far as it being the premier fighter it was supposed to be...I don't know as it was to play off the F-16, F-15, and the F-22...each bringing their own uniques skillsets to the fight. It was never intended to be the sole replacement for all fighters.
Again, this is only my opinion.
Cheers,
Scott
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