F35 Joint Strike Fighter

[fwbbreeze]

Here is a pic of the fighter arriving at Eglin Air Force Base last week. What a welcome sight after 2 years of delays.


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[scotto]

What a machine.

[RL3AO]

I love how our air force has air superiority over pretty much anyone we could face, but did we really need this after spending all the money after the F22?

We unlikely to be fighting an enemy with an air force much less one that would be a threat to even the F/A 18 or F16. If we get to a point where we're at an all out air superiority fight with China or Russia, it doesn't matter since it would probably end in nuclear war.

[Zampanò]

I love how our air force has air superiority over pretty much anyone we could face, but did we really need this after spending all the money after the F22?

We unlikely to be fighting an enemy with an air force much less one that would be a threat to even the F/A 18 or F16. If we get to a point where we're at an all out air superiority fight with China or Russia, it doesn't matter since it would probably end in nuclear war.

I concur, while extremely impressive from a technological standpoint, it is hard to shake the feeling that this is something of a white elephant. At a time when government spending is a hot-button issue, it seems like the astronomical amount of money that goes into the development, manufacture and maintenance of such aircraft could be put to better use (NOAA, transportation infrastructure, making sure disabled and elderly citizens don't lose what little assistance they get.) Our tax dollars at work, I suppose.

Apologies if this post was too political in nature. Hopefully the day will never come when these things actually need to be sent into combat.

[mf_dolphin]

The theory has always been to have better but fewer aircraft. With China spending billions to improve their forces across the board there's still a need in my opinion to continue this path.

[MGC]

The Navy and Marine Corp needs the F-35. Marines are still flying the harrier which is getting old. Navy plans on replacing the F-18. Sure they are expensive but have you seen the latest Russian and Chinese fighter jets?....MGC

[vbhoutex]

Your picture brings back memories of living in Gulf Breeze and watching when new planes for the Navy or the Air Force would fly over. We often say the new planes before most of the public because of the proximity of the Pensacola Naval Air Station and Eglin AFB.
I also remember when the Cuban missile crisis occurred and we knew how serious it was getting when fully loaded B-58 Hustlers started flying over headed to Eglin one after the other. Within hours of the first sightings both bases were locked down with all civilians non-essential personnel sent home.

[fwbbreeze]

the money is already committed for the F35 and the initial orders will be built. One reason the US cannot scrap the project even if it wanted to is the large sums of money some of our allies have put into the program.

While Wikipedia is less than precise, it does do a pretty good job of explaining international involvement and their need.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_M ... ghtning_II

[RL3AO]

I just don't want to get into a who has a bigger di...er, military contest with the Chinese. The soviets bankrupted themselves doing that. I don't see us winning the same thing against the Chinese.