Hempy: IF someone was to retrofit MADL and its sensors to say a Super Bug, what advantage other than stealth would an F-35 have over that aircraft? B model VTOL notwithstanding.
What if it was fitted on an F-22?
A rather rhetorical question to eliminate stealth and STOVL for the B advantages for the F-35, and I think you know the answers performance wise- we know there are areas where performance is less, equal or greater than legacy aircraft- not a game changer here as addressed numerous times on this thread, but a few thoughts:
Advantages:
- New build airframe. Less hours than a rebuilt F/A-18 E/F. Super Hornet hours are getting eaten up quickly.
- Longer range. The C has loads of fuel.
- Reduced maintenance (intended, not there yet)
- More accurate gun (intended, not there yet)
- Reduced training hours.
- A design specifically intended for the sensor and airframe interface. Integrating a very complex sensor and computing suite to a legacy airframe is never a simple bolt on process. There are placement, power, interference, cabling and numerous issues to address. Not without risk, and very expensive if even possible.