Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[Suhiir]

Good documentary on the Harrier and the USMC perspective on close air support.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryrajzZICMI

[IronDuke99]

The latest official info on F-35...

http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/FY2016/

Midway down under DOD Programs

It is a long list of very varied problems, from this aircraft that seems to have been under development for such a very long time... I will be amazed if this aircraft is anything like fully operation much before 2022/23.

[shahadi]

USMC will deploy a F-35B squadron to Japan. The first F-35B to be forward based.

“'The unique combination of stealth, cutting-edge radar and sensor technology and electronic warfare systems bring all of the access and lethality capabilities of a fifth-generation fighter, a modern bomber and an adverse-weather, all-threat environment air support platform,' said 3rd MAW in a statement."

Find the full article here: https://news.usni.org/2017/01/10/fir...n-leaves-japan.

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[IronDuke99]

Originally Posted by shahadi

USMC will deploy a F-35B squadron to Japan. The first F-35B to be forward based.

“'The unique combination of stealth, cutting-edge radar and sensor technology and electronic warfare systems bring all of the access and lethality capabilities of a fifth-generation fighter, a modern bomber and an adverse-weather, all-threat environment air support platform,' said 3rd MAW in a statement."

Find the full article here: https://news.usni.org/2017/01/10/fir...n-leaves-japan.

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And yet, if you read the very long report in my last post, it clearly states that, as of now F-35's are, even when working, and they are not up to their availability expectations, they are not able to perform any mission as well as current aircraft.

I know the USMC, no doubt for their own reasons, are rushing these things into some sort of service, but it really does not look like this aircraft is going to be much use to anyone much more 2021 at the very best. They are strongly suggesting even the initial testing will not be done until 2019 As it stands at the moment the guns don't work due to sighting issues, the software is as yet nowhere close to what was promised and their are assorted other problems too (read the report if anyone is interested).

Myself I really hope they get it working, since the Royal Navy Carrier programme depends on the damn thing. But they look to be some way off having a useful aircraft, let alone a world beating one...

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by IronDuke99

And yet, if you read the very long report in my last post, it clearly states that, as of now F-35's are, even when working, and they are not up to their availability expectations, they are not able to perform any mission as well as current aircraft.

I know the USMC, no doubt for their own reasons, are rushing these things into some sort of service, but it really does not look like this aircraft is going to be much use to anyone much more 2021 at the very best. They are strongly suggesting even the initial testing will not be done until 2019 As it stands at the moment the guns don't work due to sighting issues, the software is as yet nowhere close to what was promised and their are assorted other problems too (read the report if anyone is interested).

Myself I really hope they get it working, since the Royal Navy Carrier programme depends on the damn thing. But they look to be some way off having a useful aircraft, let alone a world beating one...

Even given the current shortcomings of the F-35 as a family, it is far above the Chinese and the Russian 5th Gen fighters as those jets are nowhere close to production. In the hands of an operational squadron the development should grow exponitionally. Right?

What is interesting is the MAW did not describe the F-35 as an air superiority fighter, which I suspect still is the domain of the Raptor.

The Brits may have bigger issues with the F-35 as the US president elect has called into question the cost and role of the plane. It may get killed. And, that maybe why the Marines have "rushed" this squadron as a device to show the F-35 is already a fabric of the it's air element.

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[Suhiir]

It's really a matter of the F-35B replacing the Harrier.

Even if it's not up to it's potential (real or imagined) it's still and improvement over the Harrier and it's a new aircraft, not one suffering from an old airframe and a critical shortage of parts for maintenance.

Once again I remind people, the F-35 was never designed or intended to be an air superiority aircraft, while the UK Fleet Air Arm will press it into that role, and it will, again, be an improvement over the Harrier, to compare it to the F-22 or any other air superiority aircraft is just plain stupid. Will it have better survivability vs air superiority aircraft then the Harrier or A-10? Yes ... then it's an improvement.

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

It's really a matter of the F-35B replacing the Harrier.

Even if it's not up to it's potential (real or imagined) it's still and improvement over the Harrier and it's a new aircraft, not one suffering from an old airframe and a critical shortage of parts for maintenance.

Once again I remind people, the F-35 was never designed or intended to be an air superiority aircraft, while the UK Fleet Air Arm will press it into that role, and it will, again, be an improvement over the Harrier, to compare it to the F-22 or any other air superiority aircraft is just plain stupid. Will it have better survivability vs air superiority aircraft then the Harrier or A-10? Yes ... then it's an improvement.

The Royal Navy may well re-think cat/trap carriers and the F-35B may force her to put to sea American carriers. She will need truely capable fighters to do CAP and fleet defense not souped up Harriers.

No one is comparing the pitiful F-35B to the Raptor. Just pointing out the USAF has Raptors in the event congress stunts the F-35A. The Navy has the Super Hornet and Boeing is close to deliver the much anticipated Super Super Hornet. The USMC may shug along with an F-35B as long as her boats remain under the CAP of the Navy, where the jar heads belong. Or, the Marines may come to their senses and tasks helos with CAS until a F-35B is worked out.

No one is comparing the Raptor to the F-35B. I'm not.

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[Suhiir]

That's really the problem.

Land based air is perfectly fine for home or pre-existing foreign base defense but if you want to be able to project power into and across the worlds oceans you need carriers. Even the minimal assets the UK had available for the Falklands were sufficient and the liberation of the islands would have been impossible without them.

Who you're fighting and where determines how much, if any, fleet air you need.

[IronDuke99]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

That's really the problem.

Land based air is perfectly fine for home or pre-existing foreign base defense but if you want to be able to project power into and across the worlds oceans you need carriers. Even the minimal assets the UK had available for the Falklands were sufficient and the liberation of the islands would have been impossible without them.

Who you're fighting and where determines how much, if any, fleet air you need.

Exactly.

[IronDuke99]

I don't agree with everything said in this article.

(In particular it does not address the potential conflicts of mainly RAF 'owned' aircraft operating from RN carriers).

F-35B the right choice and the only choice for the Royal Navy

http://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/f-35...he-royal-navy/