And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Early in a war the F-35 needs stealth to get through air defenses,. Then we suppress & destroy air defenses. Then it's free to carry a heavier load knowing there are not so many enemy ground-based shooters to threaten it.
This one is on a ship so it should be a F-35C. Maybe a F-35B.
Stealth is not “on or off“ it is “more or less“. As others above have noted once you suppress the anti-air threat, the low observability requirement is not as great. But there are stealthy pylons, external fuel tanks, and weapons in development as well. Internal weapons load is 5700 pounds, but in beast mode this expands to 18,000 pounds.
The aircraft above is an F-35B. You can tell because you can see some “shoulders” behind and to each side of the cockpit from the installation of the lift fan. The Air Force A model and the Navy C model do not have those shoulders. Also, it’s obviously on a ship, and the Navy sea model has dual nose, wheels. The one pictured above has a single nosewheel, so that also indicates a B model.
It is notable that the USMC, with its tight air and ground integration, has never expressed any interest in something like the A-10. The AV-8B Harrier was their baby, the F/A 18 was acceptable, and the F-35B is their dream ride. The STOVL requirement drove a lot of issues in the development of the Joint Strike Fighter.
And now that I look at the upside down F 35 more closely, I realize that is an Air Force A model, entirely different airplane from the top picture, but also in beast mode.
There goes it's stealth capability...
ReplyDeleteExactly what I was thinking. None of the hard point mounted weaponry is stealthy, so what is the advantage there?
DeleteLooks intimidating, get close enough, show your belly and the enemy runs away. /s
DeleteMarine ground support version.
DeleteCheap, ugly and decidedly unstealthy A-10s just couldn't get it done, I guess.
Early in a war the F-35 needs stealth to get through air defenses,. Then we suppress & destroy air defenses. Then it's free to carry a heavier load knowing there are not so many enemy ground-based shooters to threaten it.
DeleteThis one is on a ship so it should be a F-35C. Maybe a F-35B.
I'm not a radar expert, but as radar is taken from the ground, wouldn't the stealth factor increase when showing the stealthy side to the ground?
DeleteNice pic, now do the newest Sukhoi!
ReplyDeleteSU-57 for the win.
ReplyDeleteThis assumes you already have air superiority and are now bombing ground points.
ReplyDeleteStealth is not “on or off“ it is “more or less“. As others above have noted once you suppress the anti-air threat, the low observability requirement is not as great. But there are stealthy pylons, external fuel tanks, and weapons in development as well. Internal weapons load is 5700 pounds, but in beast mode this expands to 18,000 pounds.
ReplyDeleteThe aircraft above is an F-35B. You can tell because you can see some “shoulders” behind and to each side of the cockpit from the installation of the lift fan. The Air Force A model and the Navy C model do not have those shoulders. Also, it’s obviously on a ship, and the Navy sea model has dual nose, wheels. The one pictured above has a single nosewheel, so that also indicates a B model.
It is notable that the USMC, with its tight air and ground integration, has never expressed any interest in something like the A-10. The AV-8B Harrier was their baby, the F/A 18 was acceptable, and the F-35B is their dream ride. The STOVL requirement drove a lot of issues in the development of the Joint Strike Fighter.
And now that I look at the upside down F 35 more closely, I realize that is an Air Force A model, entirely different airplane from the top picture, but also in beast mode.
ReplyDeleteBeast mode? Hell, with a MER used to carry more than that on a single hard point.
ReplyDelete