just a pax: This is my first post so please be gentle.
Isn't that why Gen. Mike Hostage for example is talking about the need to have the F-35s hunt in packs of eight?
Do they lack the ability or are less capable to proper self defence, and not able to get out of the situation as other aircrafts are?
If so this raises a lot of other questions. Not only for the US but for all those partners and countries that do not have the financial prerequisites to buy them in large quantities.
“Because it can’t turn and run away, it’s got to have support from other F-35s. So I’m going to need eight F-35s to go after a target that I might only need two Raptors to go after. But the F-35s can be equally or more effective against that site than the Raptor can because of the synergistic effects of the platform.”
Gen. Mike Hostage On The F-35; No Growlers Needed When War Starts « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary
Or is it just a way of trying to keep the fleet from any numerical cuts?
Just a Pax, think you are reading too much into the Generals statment in the linked article. He was comparing the capabilty of the F-22 to the F-35 in the air superiority realm, which he admits is not the main F-35 mission. The F-22 has superior range/endurance, missle load out and sensor capabilty for the air to air mission- everyone recognizes this. You would need 8 F-35s to do a comparable air superiority mission that 2 F-22's could do, not really a plan to "hunt in packs of eight."
Yes part of it is to get more aircraft.
He expands: "....The problem is, with the lack of F-22s, I’m going to have to use F-35s in the air superiority role in the early phases as well, which is another reason why I need all 1,763. I’m going to have some F-35s doing air superiority, some doing those early phases of persistent attack, opening the holes, and again, the F-35 is not compelling unless it’s there in numbers,” the general says. “Because it can’t turn and run away, it’s got to have support from other F-35s. So I’m going to need eight F-35s to go after a target that I might only need two Raptors to go after. But the F-35s can be equally or more effective against that site than the Raptor can because of the synergistic effects of the platform.”
I would say it is more of a statement on the impressive capabilties of the F-22, and the need to fully fund the F-35A fleet.