The DEW Line and Addison Schonland, of the Innovation Analysis Group in San Diego, teamed up this week for a podcast discussion about the Saab Gripen's recent inroads in F-35 Joint Strike Fighter territory in Northern Europe, as well as the C-130XL debate.
Listen to the podcast here.
I also recommend checking out the Ares blog this week to read or participate in a most profound and informed debate about the relevance and strategy of the F-35. I particularly liked Solomon's thoughts about the program, which I'll excerpt here:
Listen to the podcast here.
I also recommend checking out the Ares blog this week to read or participate in a most profound and informed debate about the relevance and strategy of the F-35. I particularly liked Solomon's thoughts about the program, which I'll excerpt here:
I keep being amazed at the ability of certain people in the media and on these pages to overlook the history of this aircraft. The F-35 was to be part of the Air Forces --Air Dominance strategy.
That meant a force composed of STEALTH AIRCRAFT. Once again boys and girls, if you're saying that stealth is irrelevant then I say put the avionics package, engines, etc...into new build F-15's perhaps add canards and you have your relatively cheap war winner. The Navy did essentially that with the F/A-18 and the boys in blue stated that it was no upgrade.
Secondly. The glue for this is the international buys and I'm not talking about the Dutch or the Australians. I'm talking about the UK, Spain, Italy and perhaps India who along with the USMC will be needing a MODERN, HIGH PERFORMANCE REPLACEMENT for the AV-8B, Sea Harrier, Harrier GR.9's ....
Lastly, the performance figures are faulty. Load up an F-22 in stealth configuration and it won't hold as many missiles as the SU-35. In the same scenario (with the performance capabilities of the AIM-120D) it would still be within "knife cutting range of the SU and although its only rumor, I've heard, read, whatever that the F-22 is no knife fighting airframe.
IF your arguments are that STEALTH is not the "winner" that many believe it is, then upgrades to legacy airframes is the way to go. If you're a believer in Air Dominance, ISR warfare and the supremacy of Electronic Attack, then the only real choice is the F-35.
Recent Comments