F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

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Bhurki

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Lockheed Martin F-35 leads in Swiss fighter jet evaluation
 

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Lockheed Martin F-35 leads in Swiss fighter jet evaluation

While there was no doubt that F-35 was the best, still one wonders if the Swiss really needs F-35? For one no country will disturb the Swiss since Swiss nuetrality is guaranteed by the US, NATO and Russia. The only air threats that the Swiss will have to watch out for are crazy hijackers and suicide pilots. 1 genetation behind Rafale, SH or GripenE are enough for their needs.
 

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USMC F-35s carry AIM9X while RAF F-35s carry ASRAAM
 
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asianobserve

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F-35B is giving rise to pocket AC. Here's Italian Navy Cavour...

Another interesting benefit of F-35B is interoperability of NATO and ally aircraft carriers. USMC can operate in HMS QE, Cavour, Japanese and SoKor aircraft carriers in the future and vice versa. These pocket ACs are essentially NATO and allied mini airfields that can be used by any allied F-35s.
 
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Bhurki

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While there was no doubt that F-35 was the best, still one wonders if the Swiss really needs F-35? For one no country will disturb the Swiss since Swiss nuetrality is guaranteed by the US, NATO and Russia. The only air threats that the Swiss will have to watch out for are crazy hijackers and suicide pilots. 1 genetation behind Rafale, SH or GripenE are enough for their needs.
I think they are looking at it from a lifetime point of view.
What other jets will still be servicable and maintenence worthy 40 years from now?
Neither of the the main operators of EF, Rafale or Gripen will have these jets in operation in 2060, so it doesn't make sense in operationalising them now.
Its like an airforce still operating F5 in 2020, or mig 21 for that matter.

One might point towards other countries buying these legacy jets today, but they have much higher hour-chew rates as compared to the Swiss, due to your aforementioned reason, and so might look at decommissioning these aircraft rather quickly (25 years).
 
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Fast Facts - Jun 2021

Total Units Delivered - 670
Total Flight Hours/Sorties - 400k+/220k+
 

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What other jets will still be servicable and maintenence worthy 40 years from now?
Neither of the the main operators of EF, Rafale or Gripen will have these jets in operation in 2060, so it doesn't make sense in operationalising them now.
I think you are wrong at least for Rafale and Gripen E.
The french air force have a little bit less than 30 planes to receive from older orders, and 30+ more of a next purchase.
These birds will be delivered in the coming years, so they will remain in service in 2060+ (see the Mirage 2000 D exemple : production mid 90's, mid life upgrade now, for at least 15 more years : ie 2035. 40 years life)
 

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now when you get down low the jet especially the f-35 it is a beast down low it is so it's the most powerful jet engine ever put on a fighter aircraft.
and when it has a lot of dense air down low it can sustain a lot of g's and not bleed energy because it's just so powerful.
 

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Just to put it into perspective, thrust limit of
F35 is 19 tons,
EF is 18 tons,
Rafale is 15 tons,
F18E is 20 tons.

In addition, the drag profile of F35 doesnt change at all for most of the missions, while every other aircraft will face drag creep for the initial half of all missions.
 

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Just to put it into perspective, thrust limit of
F35 is 19 tons,
EF is 18 tons,
Rafale is 15 tons,
F18E is 20 tons.

In addition, the drag profile of F35 doesnt change at all for most of the missions, while every other aircraft will face drag creep for the initial half of all missions.
Right. But the F35 piece of sugar aero is a penlaty for all the mission, even without load and low on fuel.
 

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