F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

[asianobserve]

It will be very intesresting.

In some years there will be a lot of battle in belgium (and NL) about the REAL costs of these planes. I'm sure the other part of the army will have to make cuts to finance the F35.

BUT IT's A EUROPEAN DEFEAT. A CRUEL ONE. Now how to stick to Poland to purchase US weapons....

A sad day.

F-35 is full of European parts so I don't consider it a European defeat. It's simply a Eurofighter and Rafale defeat. But the pattern is clear, everytime F-35 is put into the mix with EF, Rafale and other fighters for fighter selection the F-35 always wins.

Definitely, politics cannot be accused in the latest Belgian decision since Belgium is the seat of the EU.

 

[Immanuel]

No.
USA = 8
Europe = 0. It's mainly a European failure. It's a pity.... It's sad.

And in some country, as for Rafale and EF, there was no competition (ex : Egypt for Rafale, Koweit for EF, Israel for F35). So is your 8 real ?

Well the reason why Rafale had no exports for almost a decade or more was because people seem to think buying fighter jets is merely a competition based on merit. While flight characteristics and technology are important purchasing a certain type where often billions are spent, it is almost always a political deal. Egypt, Qatar, India buying the Rafale was exactly a poltical success.

http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/belgium-f-35-joint-strike-fighter-aircraft

All 4.5 gen aircraft be it Rafale, EF, SH Block, MKI, F-16 Block 60+, Mig-35, Su-35, Gripen NG etc all have their advantages and disadvantages. In the end any one of these can prevail over the other in a BVR, WVR, dogfight scenario based on pilot skill, tactics and creativity.

F-35 brings a few more goodies but still, it's a tool only as effective as the user. That said, Belgium going the F-35 is no brainer. The flyaway price and service cost for 5-10 years is still very good, deliveries begin 2023+

http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/belgium-f-35-joint-strike-fighter-aircraft

The F-35 once it arrives will deploy all US weapons in Belgian inventory, Belgium had plenty of experience assembling the F-16s and those old relationships are still active for fleet maintenance. The current 31st Tiger F-16 SQD at Kliene Brogel have a nuke attack role using the B-61 bomb which will begin flight certification on the F-35 so they will this ability as well. Belgium doesn't pay it's 2% of GDP fair share to NATO and with Trump making it squeaky clear that these countries need up their funding, what better way to please the Trumpster than by handing this lucrative contract to Lockheed.

 

[asianobserve]

Well the reason why Rafale had no exports for almost a decade or more was because people seem to think buying fighter jets is merely a competition based on merit. While flight characteristics and technology are important purchasing a certain type where often billions are spent, it is almost always a political deal. Egypt, Qatar, India buying the Rafale was exactly a poltical success.

I beg to disagree. If F-35 was only offered to these countries I'm 100% sure that F-35 would have won in all competition tenders for these countries.

In the case of Belgium in particular, EU certainly has more political and economic leverage over Belgium than the US and yet the Belgian AF chose F-35.

 

[asianobserve]

Russia analyst: F-35 Lightning II can deliver nuclear strike on Moscow

Russia analyst suggested that the possibility of the F-35 aircraft carrying nuclear B61 Mod 12 gravity bombs to be deployed on NATO bases in Lithuania or Latvia “actually changes the status of these nuclear weapons.”

“In relation to Russia, it ceases to be tactical, as it is capable of reaching the objects of the central industrial region of the country, large cities, including Moscow,” – said Victor Esin in an interview.

https://defence-blog.com/news/russi...-ii-can-deliver-nuclear-strike-on-moscow.html

 

[Immanuel]

I beg to disagree. If F-35 was only offered to these countries I'm 100% sure that F-35 would have won in all competition tenders for these countries.

In the case of Belgium in particular, EU certainly has more political and economic leverage over Belgium than the US and yet the Belgian AF chose F-35.

Well EU does have leverage over Belgium but the US has got NATO balls under vice grip especially since budgets have been forced to be increased. Obviously existing F-16s users have a easier pathway to adopt the F-35 than any other fighter on offer today since LM would clever works with existing partners and leverage decades old working relations.

Not to mention the F-35 offers in many cases tech which is still a gen ahead in comparison to others. F-35 indeed would win most competitions it would participate in.

 

[asianobserve]

Well EU does have leverage over Belgium but the US has got NATO balls under vice grip especially since budgets have been forced to be increased. Obviously existing F-16s users have a easier pathway to adopt the F-35 than any other fighter on offer today since LM would clever works with existing partners and leverage decades old working relations.

Not to mention the F-35 offers in many cases tech which is still a gen ahead in comparison to others. F-35 indeed would win most competitions it would participate in.

Interestingly, in Germany, the top target of Trump's NATO underbudget rage and pressure, it is the politicians there who are insisting on buying the Eurofighter while their own Air Force leader, and presumably the Air Force top brass, want the F-35. So I don't think America is arm twisting European countries to buy F-35. On the contrary, it is the professional air forces of European countries who are being arm twisted by European politicians into buying European, either 4.5th gen EF or Rafale, when all they (air forces) really want is the 5th gen F-35.

 

[asianobserve]

Belgium picks Lockheed's F-35 over Eurofighter on price

Over the 40-year life of the aircraft, the deal will cost Belgium 12.4 billion euros, rather than the 15 billion euros first projected, he said.

https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1MZ1S0

 

[asianobserve]

Canada to accept bids for new fighter jet in May — here are the potential competitors

The aircraft will replace Canada’s current fleet of CF-18 fighter jets. The aircraft expected to be considered include Lockheed Martin’s F-35, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale, Saab’s Gripen and the Boeing Super Hornet.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...et-in-may-here-are-the-potential-competitors/

My list of the ranking for Canadian fighter selection would be this:
1. F-35
2. SH
3. EF
4. Gripen
5. Rafale

 

[Immanuel]

Canada to accept bids for new fighter jet in May — here are the potential competitors



https://www.defensenews.com/global/...et-in-may-here-are-the-potential-competitors/

My list of the ranking for Canadian fighter selection would be this:
1. F-35
2. SH
3. EF
4. Gripen
5. Rafale

The only aircraft that make any sense for Canada are SH Block 3 or F-35 and finally one of these will win.

 

[asianobserve]

The only aircraft that make any sense for Canada are SH Block 3 or F-35 and finally one of these will win.

I think the F-35 will win if only the Canadian AF is allowed to freely choose its future fighter by Canadian politicians.

 

[BON PLAN]

The anti stealth radars are coming .....

https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/eur...overt-radar-in-large-scale-demo-over-bavaria/

"The German air force and electronics specialist Hensoldt are gearing up to deploy a new sensing technology in southern Germany that promises to target enemy aircraft without pilots knowing they are being tracked.

The company first unveiled its TwInvis passive radar system at the Berlin Air Show in April, where it was rumored as a technology with the potential to detect stealthy aircraft like the F-35."

 

[asianobserve]

The anti stealth radars are coming .....

https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/eur...overt-radar-in-large-scale-demo-over-bavaria/

"The German air force and electronics specialist Hensoldt are gearing up to deploy a new sensing technology in southern Germany that promises to target enemy aircraft without pilots knowing they are being tracked.

The company first unveiled its TwInvis passive radar system at the Berlin Air Show in April, where it was rumored as a technology with the potential to detect stealthy aircraft like the F-35."

Then why are France and Germany desperate to get on the bandwagon of stealthy fighters?Dassault's proposal doesn't even have a tail to maximize stealth.

 

[BON PLAN]

Then why are France and Germany desperate to get on the bandwagon of stealthy fighters?Dassault's proposal doesn't even have a tail to maximize stealth.

To be "in the mood". Propaganda. LM propaganda...

 

[asianobserve]

To be "in the mood". Propaganda. LM propaganda...

Wow! You have an astronomical self-regard that has already transcended the universe of reason. So you're saying that Dassault people are so stupid and you're a genius into thinking that stealth is irrelevant. Perhaps you should write them a memo and bluntly tell them how stupid they are to waste resources and time into designing a 6th gen platform. Dassault should just stick to Rafale and produce it in the next 50 years because stealth is irrelevant anyway and Rafale is super duper it can beat all 5th gen and upcoming 6th gen fighters! While you're at it you can also memo your government, the German government, the British, the Chinese, the Russians, the Koreans, the Turkish, the Indians, and pretty much all AF who would definitely choose a stealthy 5th gen fighter if only one is available to them and they can afford it! Wow! I mean wow!

 

[Jaguar_1432]

US Air Force showcased the souping up F-35 over Afghanistan.

 

[asianobserve]

OPINION: F-35 win in Belgium should come as no shock to Europe

While the decision by France and Germany to collaborate on a future combat air system for the 2040s is commendable, European industry is still suffering from the decisions that led to the bloc developing both the Eurofighter and the Rafale.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...in-in-belgium-should-come-as-no-shock-453240/

And a lot of Frenchies are so proud to admit that Rafale is now old tech as it has been late to the game.

 

[asianobserve]

F-35B connects with USS Wasp’s anti-cruise missile defence

For the first time a US Marine Corps F-35B made a Link 16 connection with the USS Wasp’s Ship Self Defense System (SSDS), allowing the stealth fighter to securely share digital tactical data with the US Navy vessel and surrounding support fleet, information that could be used for defense against an air attack.

Sharing data from the F-35B’s sensors with the SSDS, hardware and software that coordinates defensive missiles, decoys and electronic warfare weapons on board surface ships, would allow the USN more situational awareness of incoming missiles. Anti-ship cruise missiles flying at sub-sonic and supersonic speeds just above the surface of the ocean pose one of the greatest threats to vessels.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...-with-uss-wasps-anti-cruise-missile-d-453285/

 

[BON PLAN]

Wow! You have an astronomical self-regard that has already transcended the universe of reason. So you're saying that Dassault people are so stupid and you're a genius into thinking that stealth is irrelevant. Perhaps you should write them a memo and bluntly tell them how stupid they are to waste resources and time into designing a 6th gen platform. Dassault should just stick to Rafale and produce it in the next 50 years because stealth is irrelevant anyway and Rafale is super duper it can beat all 5th gen and upcoming 6th gen fighters! While you're at it you can also memo your government, the German government, the British, the Chinese, the Russians, the Koreans, the Turkish, the Indians, and pretty much all AF who would definitely choose a stealthy 5th gen fighter if only one is available to them and they can afford it! Wow! I mean wow!

Stealth is well known in France : The first stealthy designed frigates are the Lafayette ones.
Have you seen that the Burke US destroyers are not as stealthy designed?
So If USN find Stealth is not so important, why a fighter may absolutely be a stealth one?

Sure it's better to be stealth, but new kind of radars are coming, and the penalty is huge.

 

[BON PLAN]

Australia’s biggest defence mistake that will cost us billions

https://www.news.com.au/technology/...s/news-story/89641090fc2a72b7f3cee8f91f652ea6

 

[BON PLAN]

Better and better....

https://mobile.twitter.com/JoedeBrig/status/1055331233205551105?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.**************.org%2Fforums%2Fthreads%2Flockheed-martin-f-35-lightning-and-f-22-raptor-news-discussion.239%2Fpage-25