by John Reed on November 7, 2011
Here’s a little something that was tucked in at the bottom of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter flight test update that Lockheed Martin sent out last Friday. An F-35A — test jet AF-1 — out of Edwards Air Force Base in California hit the JSF’s max speed of Mach 1.6 for the first time on Oct. 26. Pretty cool.
Click here to see the entire update.
November 7th, 2011 | Air Force, F-35 Watch, JSF Watch, Money Money Money, Planes, Copters, Blimps | 1526494 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fdefensetech.org%2F2011%2F11%2F07%2Ff-35-joint-strike-fighter-hits-max-speed%2FF-35+Joint+Strike+Fighter+Hits+Max+Speed2011-11-07+20%3A48%3A03John+Reedhttp%3A%2F%2Fdefensetech.org%2F%3Fp%3D15264
Previous post: Was the KC-767 Tanker Used Against Gadhafi?
Next post: Image of the Day: Thriving on Chaos
Defense Tech examines the intersection of technology and defense from every angle and provides analysis on what’s ahead.
{ 94 comments… read them below or add one }
Only mach 1.6? Sounds like a slow boat to China! Whatever happened to Mach 2 and beyond? If this thing ever gets in a battle with any number of foreign fighters, it's probably toast. They'll run rings around it.
Good enough for the lo part the hi-lo mix.
I thought about this too. The MiG-21 has a max speed of mach 2. The F-35 can only hold two AIM-120s in a stealthy configuration. If one F-35 faces 3 MiG-21s it can easily kill two, then it runs out of ammo. After it runs out of ammo the MiG-21 can out run it and kill it with advanced Russian versions of the R-73, that are now proliferating in the arms market.
Late versions of the MiG-21 (like its Chinese counterpart that is still in production the J-7) have a cost that does not exceed $18 million. If you mass produced these in a three to one ratio against the JSF numbers then you would force the JSF operators to mount weapons on them externally to give them a fair chance, eliminating their stealth abilities. Considering that you could make a whole squadron and thensome of J-7s for every JSF, those are bad odds.
Can the MiG-21 do mach 2 with external stores?
I don't know actually. It doesn't have to go mach 2 though, just faster than mach 1.6, which I am pretty sure it can easily beat with two R-73s loaded.
MiG-29 ($29 million) and the J-10 ($28 million) can reach mach 2 if their armed with two R-73 or PL-8 missiles.
Doesn't have enough fuel for it to matter anyway.
The F-35 can carry 4 AMRAAMS internally currently & 6 once the Block 3 integration is done.
The Block 3 should not even be mentioned because that is too far out and billions of dollars away. A Block III Super Hornet with a centerline mounted weapons pod and conformal fuel tanks matches the range of the JSF, comes close to matching it's stealth from the forward quarter, and also holds 4 AMRAAMS. Not only that, but the production line is already open and it would still save us a great deal of money. Why don't we just use those?
4 is Block III. I've only seen 6 on fan art. When you have 2, PK is critical.
Only the SR-71 can outrun bullets and missiles. Situational awareness through advanced sensors, communications and agility will be more significant than speed alone.
Speed isn't everything, but you miss it when its not there. Avionics, maneuverability and acceleration will be even more important.
When a SAM is on your six, you might like to run….
True to a degree. Energy can be life, particularly in the exfil.
But even a M 2.5 F-15 is't flying about on afterburner all the time. Nor is it all that fast compared to your M 4 or 6 SAM.
Trust in your countermeasures, for the missile is inevitably faster than your aircraft.
Considering it's mission mach 2 is a pointless waste of fuel. And if, somehow, a lone F35 ended up far from the ground forces it was supporting and facing any number of foreign fighters, perhaps the world's entire supply of 5th gen enemy fighters appearing together all at once, my money is still on the F35.
A strike fighter that cant do the strike part and cant do the fighter part.
Forgot to mention B version having no gun C version limited to 6g and even slower
The F/A-18E/F's max speed is mach 1.8. With the EPE engine upgrades the Super Hornet's max speed raises to somewhere around mach 2.15. The F-22's supercruise speed is around mach 1.5. The F-22's max speed is estimated to be over mach 2, but it's too expensive to find out since the air friction at the speed will damage the stealthy coatings on the jet.
I am not impressed with the F-35's performance. We should just cancel it and buy International upgrade-level Super Hornets with increased stealth characteristics: http://www.boeing.com/AeroIndia2011/pdf/Aero_Indi…
The Super Hornet is good enough to get the job done and will continue to be so for a long time. We can not only produce more of them, but also save money while increasing our performance level if we purchase them and drop the JSF. We also really need to save money and the JSF is a waste since it does not provide nearly the amount performance that it costs per jet.: http://www.informationdissemination.net/2010/09/h…
Fav quote: "You don't want to pick up Stephen's math and run with it, because if you do, you'll realize the Navy could replace every Hornet in inventory with a Block II, add an extra squadron of Block IIs to all 11 carrier air wings, add an 11th Carrier Air Wing, and still save money by sticking with SHs and choosing not to buy the Joint Strike Fighter."
Here's me agreeing with you 1000%.
The Hornet was the American Fighter in ID4. Prescient. Hope the other stuff doesn't come true.
"F/A-18E/F's max speed is mach 1.8?" You've obviously never flown one. You'd be lucky to get mach 1 with anything other than a "slick" jet.
I happen to live on a military base and I talk to several Super Hornet pilots that are here on TAD duty. I asked them about it.
You've obviously never flown one either, or by my guess even talked to someone that had flown one so good job at making yourself look like an idiot.
Also! The Super Hornet with the international road map upgrades is a "slick" jet. It only has the weapon's pod underneath and the conformal fuel tanks or designed in such a way to remain low drag and create lift. This means it doens't have to carry the underwing pylons which are to blame for the high drag on combat loaded F/A-18E/F because they're slanted outward 4 degrees.
The Super Hornet won't be breaking Mach 2, the intakes aren't designed for it. Also the whole weapons pod is a gimmick. Too small a payload compared to internal bays. I'd be glad if the Navy upgraded its Super Hornets but in the longer term we need something better.
Was this with the nose pitched down 30 degrees and the pipes lit?
Call me old school, but the *ehem* alternative has TWO engines and can almost do that without afterburners.
If I were in combat, heavy seas, hard IFR, I might want to have more than ONE propulsion unit….
Just me being paranoid.
Not paranoid marc. Operating from a ship far from shore is not an environment where the pilot of a single engine aircraft would want to have that engine suddenly develop problems. A twin engine aircraft would stand a better chance of getting back to the ship where the pilot of that single engine bird had better be confident of his swimming ability.
I was a destroyerman, SAR missions looking for ditched crews were not my favorite by any stretch.
"Mach 1.6" ???
Let me guess… with a tail-wind, right?
Kudos to the F-35 and Lockmart for achieving the blazing velocity of M 1.6 in under twelve years from the first flight of the JSF prototype.
Lockheed really has come a long way in the half century since 16 May 1958 when USAF Capt Walter W. Irwin flying the YF-104A set a world speed record of 1.404.19 mph [Mach 2+]over a 15/25 kilometer course at Edwards AFB a little over four years after the first flight of the Starfighter…
It will be hit by Mig 29 or J-10 at mach 2 with armed R-73 or PL 8,i think good news for China.
That's sad in speed the F-22 is just as pitiful. Look at the last generations main fighters. The F-15 can run past them at Mach 2.5 a F-14 at mach 2. A 60s vintage F-4 is faster at Mach 2. A 50s vintage F-105 can zoom past them. Stealth is nice to have but when every MiG from a MiG-17 in a dive or threw a modern MiG-29 or SU-27 can zoom past you in speed you wont survive get more speed and maneuverability that's more important than stealth.
Really ? So if the bad guy gets missile lock the little bit of extra speed is going to let you outrun it ? Same goes with finding it in the air with radar. I remember when the first pair of F-22s made it to Elmendorf. Shortly thereafter they did a mock search and destroy between an F-22 and an entire team of F-15C/D/E that were currently assigned there. The final tally was F-22 10, F-15s 0. If they can't find you to begin with then speed is pointless. As far as maneuverability goes, the Raptor will run circles around any jet aircraft on the planet.
A slow speed means the F-35 is at a big disadvantage in the BVR fight. The F-35 pilot is really in the horns of a dilemma he knows that the enemy missiles will arrive first and with more energy that he cant out-maneuver because he has poor aerodynamic performance, but if he turns and runs he abandons stealth and puts up a bright kill me sign for all to see.
In the F-35 stealth is a blanket that lets you get into trouble and then disappears when you need it most leaving the hapless pilot exposed and vulnerable.
"….that he cant out-maneuver because he has poor aerodynamic performance…."
"….In the F-35 stealth is a blanket that lets you get into trouble and then disappears when you need it most…."
Care to name a source and/or background for those statements?
Regards & all,
Thomas L. Nielsen
Luxembourg
I don't know the answer to this so it is a question not a statement, but didn't the F4 and other 3rd gen jets, have trouble going faster than Mach 1 with stores? I thought that it wasn't just the fuel gulping that kept them from flying faster than Mach 1 inbound in Vietnam, but the fact that it might damage the bombs or the AC. Were the 4th Gen jets able to attack at speeds over Mach 1? I know the 4th Gen could egress faster, but I didn't know the speed at which they attacked during the Iraq wars.
Second question, with the PF135 generating 28k to 43k pounds of thrust dry and wet, respectively, and PW says they can uprate newer F135's to the area of 50k pounds wet, will it finally be able to supercruise without afterburners?
Correct. The F4 was originally designed as an interceptor. That means it's mission was to go very fast, deliver it's radar homing missiles(it had no gun), and return to base because it was now out of fuel. It's the reason the four missile hard points on the F4 were blended into the body, so drag was reduced and make it capable of attaining it's Mach 2.2 top speed. The basic premise was to fly fast, engage the enemy very far away, and return. Unfortunately the actual target it was designed to defeat was a Russian bomber, which none of the planes designed this way were ever used for. But when carrying stores under the wings, even drop tanks, drag was increased by as much as 60% depending on the load and increase in weight as well. It's like strapping 1000lbs to to the roof of your 2000lb Honda, how fast can you go?
Wouldn't it be great if the F-35 was cover for a better bird being built that was in fact top secret? Like, hey enemy, here's our specs, plan accordingly!?
It might account for the severe cost overruns-hiding two programs in the budget of one. However, it requires some serious OPSEC to do so.
It worked for Denver Airport with it's "underground facilities?"
Frequent reader, first-time commenter: Are the usual commenters on this site predominantly Boeing employees, people who just finished reading Red Storm Rising, flight simulator fanatics, Fox News fans, or perhaps all of the above? I have flown a fair amount of strike-fighter training and operational missions in recent history and can't recall needing or wanting much more than Mach 1. There are a number of reasons that aircraft are no longer being built with Mach 2+ top ends, but the primary one is that high top airframe speed is largely irrelevant, even in BVR engagements.
The F-35 program certainly has some substantial flaws, but its recent progress is great, particularly in light of the seemingly unattainable goals from which it was born. The Super Hornet is a terrific platform, but anyone arguing that it represents a long-term answer without a successor is being horribly myopic. JSF's successes and failures are the foundation of future aerospace innovations despite structural and procedural problems in our research, development and procurement systems. I understand that the web commenting space is the domain of strong opinions, but it seems like this site should feature some better reasoned commenting devoid of clear agendas. Alas, probably a pipe-dream.
This comment makes way too much sense to be on this thread.
Anybody remember the "cranked arrow" F-16? How about that canard-winged F-15? How many of you know there's a semi-stealth F-15 on the production lines now for foreign sales?
Really, we don't need billion-dollar-each jets when the current platforms are still eminently useable. Sure, the F-22 is superior, but you can't really expect 250 of them to replace nearly a thousand F-15s–you just don't have the presence when you deploy them that you do with a larger fleet. The same holds true for the limited number of F-35s expected when they're trying to replace three times that number of F-16s. Yes, the F-22 and F-35 are cutting-edge, but they still need reliable, capable backups when it comes out to an all-out shooting war.
Vulpine, you just mentioned a program I wish the USAF would buy. The F15SE is a near perfect, semi-stealthy aircraft that would make a great low-tech complement to the F22 fleet.
Have a strike package led by 2 F22's in communication with a squadron of F15SE's in trail. The F22's would be able to intercept any aggressor fighters in an ambush type attack while the F15's strike the target and egress with the first element of F22's handing off the overwatch to a fresh element with a full load of Air to Air weapons to protect the F15's as they get out of the area. 4 F22's and 12 to 16 F15SE's would make a formidable mix of stealthy and semi-stealthy (by US standards and much better than semi by the standards of most air forces) aircraft at a bargain price compared to the usual US aircraft prices over the past decade or two.
Obviously the same technique could be used with a mix of F22's and F35's, but the F15's allow for a larger number of strike aircraft in a slightly more permissive area.
you must be joking, right? using F-15SE in a strike mission?
do you know how much ordinance a Silent Eagle carries?
their weapon pods can only carry four air to air missiles, or maybe a couple of SDBs, what effect do you expect they can do to a heavy defended/fortified area?
Silent Eagles are basically F-15s that trade firepower for stealth, and with downgraded firepower, you might have to re-think your choice of strike fighters.
Matrix, where did you get your info on the F15SE as a strike fighter? I was under the impression that they could carry 2 500 lb bombs or 2 1000 lb bombs or 4 250 lb SDB's. Is this article incorrect? Or are you saying that the strike package couldn't be mixed up with some F15SE's carrying air to air and some carrying air to ground?
http://www.f-15e.info/joomla/export-variants/f-15…
Well, I am under that impression from a article that comment the SE’s possible performance when the Silent Eagle make it’s debut, of chose that’s a few years ago, and i haven’t been putting much interest on the SE since then, and i was occupied by my university studies lately.
Unless there’s some radical improvements on the SE’s stealth weapon pods, the size that i saw on the picture and base on the author’s comments, it can barely squeeze a SDB each pod, let alone a 1000-pound class ordinance.
by the way, the article that i read is from the taiwanese magazine “Defense Technology Monthly”(i forgot which month it was)
The F-15SE isn't low-tech, or cheap. In fact, it is right up with the F-22 on the cost and complexity scale. The same is true of any F-15 variant. It is a large aircraft and requires plenty of work and money to keep flying.
I don't know about the whole F-15SE, but I'd love to see features from it (avionics, etc.) integrated into the current F-15E fleet. However no F-15 will be replacing cheaper aircraft like the F-16 or basic F/A-18 anytime soon.
The F-22's can't even get their O2 system straight. Till that happens, they can not fight anybody.
You still have a boneyard full of planes to back you up.
there is currently only 1 modified f-15 silent eagle & its a proposed aircraft design model that has no production line nor dye tools. vulpine
Most of the planes that claimed to fly Mach 2, actually can achieve it in a few seconds before exhausting its own fuel or engine overheat. The Soviet longed claimed their Mig-25 could easily surpass Mach 3, which made our guys nervous for many years until one of their pilots landed one in Japan. It turned out, the Mig-25 would have a hard time maintaining Mach 2.5, if not less. One attempt to show off over Israel caused the Mig-25's engine to explode.
It seems the Mach 1.6 for the JSF is a milestone for what it could do at that speed. I truly doubt if that is actually the "max" speed. Who would be stupid enough to advertise your weapon's range before fielding it? The important thing is how long it can sustain at high speed and whether your enemy could see it coming.
By the way, the Mig-21 doesn't have the radar to get it out of the kill zone, much less finding the F-35.
Completely agree. The military isn't going to just give Opposing Forces the complete specs on their equipment. It's similar to how the top speed of Nimitz and Ford carriers is classified. I guarantee that Mach 1.6 is not the F-35's actual top speed.
Agree. Like the Comanche helo, active in '96, even though not due for IOC until '06. And, cut in '05?
The prototypes first flew in 1996, doesn't mean the RAH-66 was ready then.
The RAH-66 was an amazing machine that unfortunately had lost its place in Army doctrine by the time it was ready for production. Quite a shame.
Only good thing that cam from Comanche was stealth technology for insertion helicopters. With 2 stealth bombers (the F177 might have been called a fighter, but it was a bomber), why did we need a stealth attack chopper?
Ok what is up comparing it to a mig 21 a plane designed it the 50s
Mig-25 speed is more than enough to keep it out of harms way ,had a radar with that much power it was hard to jam and it carried missles with large enough warhead that a near mis would still bring down any fighter, folow up Mig 31 had words first PESA radar and a digital datalink that most fighters still dont have inclouding F22
In a world where one Army private can leak info to Wikileaks. Nothing is that secret anymore. Mach 1.6 is likely the top speed.
Why are they just now hitting top speed for the first time? Isn’t that something you test a little more early on, like before the first one is delivered?
Shows you how far behind we are.
SPeed & altitude matters.
On the off-chance this is a serious question– no, this is not "something you test a little more early on".
All modern fighter designs are intentionally aerodynamically unstable to enhance maneuverability (it makes the plane WANT to change directions). Software is used to keep the pointy end going the direction the pilot desires. A conservative flight envelope is first selected where confidence is high that there will be no untoward behaviors. The envelope is bounded by weight, altitude, and airspeed. Within that envelope, progressively more aggressive maneuvering is conducted and the performance and flying quality data is gathered and assessed. If needed, software is refined to ensure desired aircraft behaviors are maintained, and the results are also used to refine predictive tools for further expansion. The boundaries of weight, altitude and speed are methodically expanded until the required flight envelope is reached. If there is utility seen in exceeding the specifications, then further expansion may occur.
After Vietnam it was found that fights between aircraft happen at around Mach 1. You can not fire a missile at Mach 2. Also guns are useless at Mach 2
As a former F-4 fleet and BuWepsRepStLouis driver (Navy) with over 2500 hours in type, I would have been thrilled to have a gun ILO of the POS Bravo model Sidewinders and the even worse, Sparrow II which was not much use except to smooth out the airflow on the underside of the aircraft…..
from finish strong : i thank you everyone who serves and has . what can we do to make this country better ????
I'd rather trade 2 F35 for 1 F22 & 1 F18E/F/G, F22 mops up enemy fighters, F18G HARM Sam/radar sites and E/F does air support with F22 CAP above. At least USAF won't feel too much pain when a superbug is down during sortie than downing F35
Many, many internet aeronautical engineers, test pilots, and military tacticians on this site, I see.
Huge mach numbers are so 1950's.
They expand flight envelopes a little more carefully than when YF-100s went supersonic on the first flight…..followed by lots of crashes of early production versions.
If we listened to all of the so called 'experts' throughout the years, we'd still be flying F-86's, (but I'm sure they'd be really slick with upgraded radar absorbing paint intead of 50's era polished aluminum)
Seems almost everyone has missed the point and is clueless as to the mission and role this A/C is designed for. Clearly misunderstood by the uninformed. Speed was never the issue for this equipment. A note aside; I would venture a guess that none of the anti-JSF-35 respondents here have ANY clue as to the ACTUAL electronics package on-board or what it is capable of. Nor will they for another 8-15 years. Nuff said about that.
Just to make a point: in 1964 when the F-5 was introduced, it encountered similar naysayers. No one of those uninformed knew what we needed it for. Similar comparisons were made. 47 years later, it is still in service here and abroad serving in roles no one expected and still outmaneuvering modern day A/C.
And BTW: Can your F-22 take off and land vertically?
The JSF-35B CAN. What would you have the SUBSONIC Harrier replaced with? I'm sure the Marines will LOVE this A/C.
A side note, probably a bit off topic, but for what it’s worth.. I was in the Navy stationed at NAS Cecil Field, just west of Jacksonville, FL. I was an avionics tech, assigned to an A-6 squadron. This was in April 1985.
A couple of pilots were showing off the NEWLY INTRODUCED F/A-18 Hornet. One hotdogged this beautiful new aircraft off the runway – full throttle, full flaps, full brake – and wheel-hopping a bit, like a thoroughbred chomping at the bit in the gates. Released the brakes, hit afterburner. Front wheel off the ground in less than 100 feet, rear tires off in another 100 feet – landing gear POP into place. Aircraft goes VERTICLE – hit Mach at less than 6,000 feet!! (I knew one of the ATCs that in the tower that day.) And was STILL accelerating – going ballistic!!
That day will always stick with me. I don’t care what new aircraft they cone up with, it will never make an impression on me like the NEW F/A-18 Hornet did on this young airdale that day….
I call BS on fully airborne in 200 ft.
Hmmmmm….The F-106, is still the fastest, single engine fighter of all time? I guess the emphasis is no longer on speed, but avionics, eh?
If you don't count the F8U-3 prototypes that lost the flyoff to the F-4 Phantom II. That aircraft would have kicked ass in Vietnam. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6V8kvI6vrA
The F35 is just the shake down version. The real Joint Strike Fighter is a replacement for the VTOL Harrier. Sitting stopped in flight and then off in attack at 1.6/2.0 mach sounds like a really nasty thing.
I can tell you one thing. I work at northrop grumman. and build both aircraft. The f-35 and f-18 And that there is a absolute need for both, until the f-35 is produced in number we need f-18 to defend our country and our oil in the middle east. Plus the fact russia and china are on there way to 5th gen fighter production and selling them to country's that would use them in a heart beat against us.
Your not building both aircraft. Northrop does provide major components to each aircraft, as do many other sub contractors. Just because you pop rivets in one section of one of those aircraft, does not make you an expert on the need of one or both aircraft. I can also tell you that you personally do not work on both aircraft. They are made in seperate facilities, and large companies like Northrop have seperate workforces for each program. So basically your whole statement is BS.
@ William… what do you mean by your oil????
Bad attitude and wrong of thinking and absolutely no knowledge 'bout the real world pirate..
Were is the F-23A?This is the plane that should have won the contract,not the F-22 or the F-35. And this is not speculation eather,(?).
Thank you,
R.K.(Bobby) Tom
The YF-23 wasn't part of the JSF competition nor was it built for the same mission as the F-35.
I think it was because it was stupid expensive, and wasn't as versatile. Yea, somehow even more expensive than the gold cockpit glass F-22.
^ c o c k p i t
1. The Speed is for F-35 is (M)2.5+ too F-22 Hit Speeds of (M) 2.5 + too!
In 1992, both YF-23s were fenced outside just north and east of the B-2 building at Edwards AFB. I left in 1993, and do not know what happened to them from that point forward. The 23 was in competition with the 22 only. The F-35 was in competition with the Boeing design that looked like a guppy. Two seperate programs.
Man, for all the "I'm a fighter pilot, and I don't need to go Mach 2, pull 9gs, I cruise around at 450 knots and do all the aerial combat, BVR, etc." Posters. Wow! And for all of the modern fighters can't sustain Mach 2, or fly above 34 thousand feet people. Watch this. It is a video of an ordinanry Mig 29 flying to 72,000 feet and 1500 sustained. Yeah.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfEeEMU_KPg&fe…
Sadly aircraft going to war actually have to carry weapons, which are normally slung out in the air stream. They create this thing called 'drag' which drastically alters the aircraft's performance. Wow! Yeah.
SO you are telling me with a couple of missiles on that puppy its got a top speed of 500kts and a service ceiling of 40K? I bet with a light load the 29 could still top out at 60K and Mach 1.8.
Funny how everyone keeps referring to the mig when were fighting wars against enemies that don’t even have planes…I think the f35 will do just fine in a dogfight with a man on a flying carpet holding an ak47…
Come on Guys!
The French passenger plane Concorde acheived Mach 2.15 with 187000 Lbs takeoff weight. JSF was a waste of money and waste of time.
Superman
Has anyone any idea what the plan is for this aircraft as the many rolls it will be asked to fill look's more of a ground support first speed is not it's main feature aveonics seem's to be more then earlier plane's and it will probably never fire weapon's at mach 1.6 as pilot's who are flying now don't or have made comments' to that effect . We of little or no knowledge maybe prone to down grade this plane it is something that is easy to do I only hope it will be an aircraft the pilot's who will be flying this jet are proud to fly in all sitution's.
RE: Texas Jester: Back in the late 70's I and my family were at an air show at Scott AFB,
At one point an F-5 sitting on the tarmac lit up it's two engines and started rolling down the taxi strip when it reached the runway it stopped momentarily then with a deafening roar it started to roll. In a matter of a few seconds it was in the air. Then the crowd roared as the plane went vertical, after burners glowing and disappeared,straight up out of sight. I was amazed!
What the hell!!! In Korean war the F9F Panther was 100 mph slower than a Mig 15 yet racked up a 5-0 Kill ratio, it was the Navy pilots vs the Russian pilots. The Navy pilots were better trained and knew how to manuver a panther against the faster Mig. LOL
Give me a F22 any day
So Block 3 integration on the F-35 is too far away and the alternative is a proposed version of the Super Bug that only exists on paper?
Your range & stealth claims are also only real in the form of Boeing marketing brochures as does the integration costs for all the new components.
Which brings us back to your initial speed argument. You think your Enhanced Super Bug with the pods & weapons out in the air stream will be able to keep up with the F-35 whose speed you were arguing against earlier?
Looks like 6 internal got pushed back to Block 5.
Regardless 4 internal is a requirement for the offensive counter air mission and will be integrated during SDD. It absolutely will be available at IOC.
BTW fan art aside the information is easily available from the program office.
Oops forget to mention Block 3 is production standard which is what all of the air frames currently being delivered are built to. Your "too far away" was already surpassed in Feb of this year.
It was meant to be a stealth reconaissance vehicle, which needs an innate capability to engage targets of opportunity. However, I'm not sure if it was armored up or capable of deploying the same payloads that an Apache would.
Then again, there may have been some mission creep in the "light reconaissance" design…
Matrix, I don't know about stealth pods, they are using the entire Conformal Weapons Bay, which leaves some space for fuel but is mostly designed to eject up to two weapons per bay. I have read 3 or 4 articles and they all talk about weapons up to the size of one 1000 lb bombs or two 250 lb per Conformal Weapons Bay. Even Wiki, for what it is worth, says that they have four internal hardpoints in the conformal weapons bays. It reduces the combat radius by around 180 miles, but there is no free lunch.
http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/The-Stea…
Minor correction. They are being built to latest configuration that will later be loaded with Block 3 S/W. Word is the long pole on that milestone has as much to do with security requirements as anything else. No matter, even with a Block 1 S/W load post weapons integration, I'd take a F-35 over an F-16 or F-18 of any type.