PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
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Old 4th Dec 2013, 17:44
  #3755 (permalink)  
Courtney Mil
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Southern Europe
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As Engines has stated, these are very different platforms for very different purposes. I wouldn't say "the F-22 isn't a bad aircraft", I would say it is a magnificent aircraft for Air Supremacy - exactly what it says on the tin. The whole idea of an uncompromising design ethic comes from its intended role - remember, they did exactly the same with the F-15. "Not a pound for air-to-ground." The later development there was massively successful, but came at a price to the original role. Of course.

Back to today (or tomorrow in the case of F-35), it's designed as a light strike fighter. It will do AD for itself to a point, but is unlikely to match F-22 in that area - again, not designed to, but gradually being talked up in that area.

Horses for courses and a lot yet to be proven.

If you think of F-22 as as a 21st century F-15 and F-35 as a 21st century F-16/Harrier, it makes sense.
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