![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This sentiment is borne out of genuine and overlapping concerns about the massive research and development costs that went into the program, repeated production setbacks and delays, and an ongoing struggle with incredibly high operational costs. Staci Reidinger/Marine Corps Air Station Yuma)ĭespite the incredible technological capability offered by the F-35 and its repeated victories over other Western fighters when competing for international contracts, the aircraft itself has gained a reputation within some circles as a failure. Related: Voodoo II: Could a simple patch give us a sneak peek at NGAD? The Air Force is actively trying to avoid another acquisition boondoggle like the F-35 Courtesy photo provided by Lockheed Martin Corp., taken by Fred Clingerman in April 2012 at the Lockheed Martin Factory in Ft. Once in service, this new fighter is expected to serve as the basis for an entirely new generation of fighters - just as the F-22 did when it first took flight all the way back in 1997. That, combined with the smallest radar return of any fighter ever to fly, said to be thousands of times smaller than the return of Chinese or Russian stealth fighters, and a suite of advanced avionics systems designed specifically for air-to-air combat makes the F-22 today’s top-ranked air superiority fighter.īut while the F-22 sets the standard for fighter performance and the F-35 raised the bar in terms of fighter technology, the aircraft that will emerge from the Next Generation Air Dominance program is expected to eclipse the capabilities offered by both. While the F-35’s performance could be considered almost sluggish compared to Cold War hot rods like the F-15 Eagle, the F-22 delivers blistering speeds and aerobatic maneuverability that’s unparalleled in the American inventory. The F-22 Raptor, which entered service a year before the F-35’s first test flight, does not offer the same extreme degree of sensor fusing awareness, but what the Raptor lacks in computing power, it makes up for with brute force. Further, the jet can soak up data and streamline it all into an easy-to-manage pilot interface that not only makes the F-35 a potent threat in any combat scenario but has even been known to increase the lethality of older jets flying alongside it, thanks to its ability to provide such heightened degrees of situational awareness. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, is currently the world’s most technologically advanced tactical aircraft - thanks to a combination of stealth technologies and sensor-fusing onboard computers that allow the fighter to operate inside contested airspace with near impunity. ![]()
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