Originally Posted by
Channel 2
In many ways, the F-35A is a second generation F-117, no?
No. Noted.
The F-35A’s miserable maneuverability and indifferent handling qualities—they don’t call it, 'the little turd’ for nothing—are sufficient for an aircraft that operates at night.
We've yet to see it in a shooting war, so a lot of it's projected capability remains ... unproven.
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, (March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999) might be key. Everything that the F-117 needed to do, but couldn’t do in that campaign has been addressed with the F-35A.
It's a little more complicated than that, given that the B-2 has been IOC for quite a while but wasn't used in that op.
The F-35A can't turn, climb or run, but none of that really matters at night. At night doesn't the F-35 hold ALL the cards?
Is this speculation? A rhetorical question? A deliberate piece of flame bait?
As noted before, the F-35 thread is over there. -----------------> Please join in the scrum if you are so inclined.