wings wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:51 pm
Anyone else remember the flaming deathtrap that was the Bradley IFV?
Now, I believe the design is compromised AF. I also believe in the principle of open-source coding, where publicizing hax and design flaws helps speed up the patch rollout and leads to better, more secure software faster than otherwise. I expect if the F-35 ever sees combat, it will turn out to be totally inadequate at the tasks that its predecessors performed with panache - looking at you, A-10 - yet surprisingly good at weird new niche stuff - think EF-111.
A-10 IS a better jet for CAS..why it's not being retired. The EF-18G is much better than the EA-6B or the EF-111 or the F-4G..BUT EF-111 is a really, really old airframe and it would make no sense to throw $ at reopening that assembly line(all the 'gear' disposed of anyway). The USAF DOES need a new 'weasel'...
I expect if the F-35 ever sees combat, it will turn out to be totally inadequate at the tasks that its predecessors performed with panache
The next airwar will not only be at night, it will also be in a Sam hostile environment. The only jets that will survive are 5th gen..as in, stealthy. 4th gen..all but the F-22, B-2 and F-35..are very vulnerable. You can paint these relics(all 4th gen..F-18/22/35/16/15..etc.Rafale/EuroFighter/Flanker/Fulcrum/Gripen/Chengdu, etc) all you want with fancy paint but 5th gen/stealthy is the future in air warfare.