Dogfight : F35 vs F16

[Zimme83]

http://breakingdefense.com/documents/services-set-ioc-dates-for-f-35s-confidence-is-the-watchword/

The specific requirements for IOC:

“Marine Corps F-35B IOC shall be declared when the first operational squadron is equipped with 10-16 aircraft, and US Marines are trained, manned, and equipped to conduct CAS, Offensive and Defensive Counter Air, Air Interdiction, Assault Support Escort, and Armed Reconnaissance in concert with Marine Air Ground Task Force resources and capabilities. Based on the current F-35 JPO schedule, the F-35B will reach the IOC milestone between July 2015 (Objective) and December 2015 (Threshold). Should capability delivery experience changes or delays, this estimate will be revised appropriately.

[GScholz]

I did. I can show you video of F-35B's operating from a ship or dropping bombs if you want. IOC still means only a "capability is available in its minimum usefully deployable form."

[GScholz]

It's a fantastic machine...

[Zimme83]

IOC clearly means that it should be capable to perform real combat missions, and the F-35 clearly isn't near that...

[GScholz]

The pilot has eyes and a radio. He can perform recce missions.

The pilot has eyes and the plane can carry bombs. He can perform CAS and Assault Support Escort.

The pilot has eyes and the radar works for four hours and the plane can carry AIM-120s and AIM-9X (externally). He can perform Offensive and Defensive Counter Air, Air Interdiction.


The pilot can perform all these missions in a minimum usefully deployable form.

[Zimme83]

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/15/politics/f-35-report-question-readiness/

You can deny it as much as you want..

[GScholz]

If you actually read that article then the only part that should carry any weight with any reasonable level headed person:

"The Marine Corps said it does not agree with all of the conclusions and opinions outlined by the DOT&E in the POGO report, due to what it called a lack of context and qualifying information, according to a statement provided to CNN.

"During OT-1, we wanted to prove that non-test F-35B aircraft could be operated and sustained aboard an L-class ship," the Marine Corps said in a statement. "We successfully did that. The two weeks of operational testing assessed the aircraft's integration with the U.S. Navy ship and crew, operating a wide array of flight and deck operations."

The Marine Cops also said that the extensive testing done verified expected F-35B capabilities: successful missile shots; successful steel-on-steel, air-to-ground deliveries; and three successful sea-trials."

The rest is political and newsie sensationalism.

[Zimme83]

And Pentagon says that those claims are not true..

[GScholz]

And who do you choose to believe, and why?

[Zimme83]

Are you suggesting that the Pentagon report is lying? I can see no reason for Pentagon to do that, im pretty sure they too wants to see the F-35 operational...

[GScholz]

If a Swedish Air Force pilot and all his friends tell you one thing about the Gripen, and a Swedish politician tell you something else, you believe the politician?

That is your prerogative, but I prefer to believe the people who actually have first hand knowledge of the subject in question.

...


I think that is what it boils down to really. Should we call it a night my söta bror, or do you want to continue this endless discussion ad infinitum?

[Zimme83]

That is an irrelevant question and has nothing to do with this topic.

[GScholz]

Fine.

Is this relevant enough for you? The Pentagon and the USMC obviously do not agree over that report. Who do you believe, and why?

[Zimme83]

I'll go with the Pentagon, there are very Little that support the USMC in this case. Having only 6 fighters on the ship, a ton of LM maintenance guys and a bunch of Ospreys on standby for flying in spare parts isn't exactly a realistic Environment.

[GScholz]

As I said... That is your prerogative, but I prefer to believe the people who actually have first hand knowledge of the subject in question.

That is where we differ.

Good night.