Much has been said about the F-35's aerial prowess, or, according to some, the lack thereof. But a key member of the F-35's industry team says none of that dogfighting stuff matters anyway.
Check the 3:30 mark: "With [distributed aperture system], maneuverability is irrelevant. Instead of mutual kills, the F-35 simply exits the fight, and lets its missiles do the turning."
Northrop Grumman uploaded the video about the F-35's electro-optical DAS system to a special new YouTube channel on Monday.
Check the 3:30 mark: "With [distributed aperture system], maneuverability is irrelevant. Instead of mutual kills, the F-35 simply exits the fight, and lets its missiles do the turning."
Northrop Grumman uploaded the video about the F-35's electro-optical DAS system to a special new YouTube channel on Monday.
on May 8, 2009 3:34 PM | Reply
Where have I heard that before? Ah, yes. The F-4, before it started getting waxed in furballs.
I agree with the F-35 guys -- as long as the pilots stay with their TTPs. But others will remember hearing this argument before.
on May 8, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply
Either way, if the EO-DAS system is all it's cracked up to be, it certainly wins in the "cool factor", even if it's attached to a lousy airplane.
on May 8, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply
How nice to know that you don't need maneuverability. Do you think we are buying a pig in a polk? The best part is that SECDEF recommends that we buy 30 of these turkey's(F-35) at $6.8B. Glad I won't be flying one of them into battle. Let's see, small pay load, low maneuverability, high price, loss of commonality. That sounds like a government program. And some people want government run health care.
on May 8, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply
That claim would be a lot more encouraging if our missiles are more maneuverable than they are right now.
on May 8, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply
Better hope they're right since we've decided to place all our bets on the F-35.
on May 8, 2009 5:01 PM | Reply
Won't everyone else eventually have something like the DAS that will put more capability into their more maneuverable aircraft? It sounds like the technology can be used across platforms and has nothing to do with the F-35 stealth or other features.
on May 8, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply
>>>"With [distributed aperture system], maneuverability is irrelevant. Instead of mutual kills, the F-35 simply exits the fight, and lets its missiles do the turning."
That is consistent with what pilots have told me about modern high-off boresight missiles. Essentially, from what I've been told, the new missiles make the WVR arena virtual suicide resulting in a mutual kill. The exception being unless you enter the fight with a massive advantage.
on May 8, 2009 6:44 PM | Reply
What Dave said.
Lots of discussion at the F-35 Forum (at F-16.net) on this topic. The fighter pilots seem to agree that a knife fight with modern AAMs is mutually assured destruction. You can't out turn or outrun a modern missile, so what's the point, they ask.
Much better to be stealthy and have lots of situational awareness, fire your weapons, then run away bravely.
I hope they're right.
on May 9, 2009 5:14 AM | Reply
Get more F-22.
Cost as much as an F-35 prior 2020.
Hell the Navy should take a look at a F-22"N".
on May 12, 2009 3:54 AM | Reply
Man, this is like a super model with herpes. The F-4 experience should have taught us better.