F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Brumby
Major
By end of the year South Korea will have 10 of the F-35s and 40 by 2021. If China does not ramp up J-20 production, South Korea alone will have more 5th generation planes than China. LOL.
Brumby
Major
I think you are underestimating the precision engineering required to manufacture fifth generation planes and in particular on a large scale like we are seeing with the F-35. The significance is that we are seeing deliveries across to all allied partners. Successively each of them are starting to have their own squadrons and declaring IOC or soon will be doing so. The best part is the pricing continues to decline and will get to $80 million soon. It is incredible value for money considering the capabilities that come with it especially in contrast to the alternatives. It is the best deal in town except that membership is restricted.
China truly cannot hope to match F-35 production rates by itself. After all there is a union of industrialised nations who have invested in F-35 to make it what it has eventually become. The entire program no doubt has cost many times more than the nearest Chinese equivalent, J-20's. China's counter strategy to US led containment must be asymmetric if it hopes to survive. Most (even optimistic Chinese) would consider US to be militarily superior today, let alone US + allies willing and happy to go to war. Even though most nations won't be going to war against China in that pool of F-35 operators. China's only problem shared with South Korea is called North Korea. This has developed from a military problem into a diplomatic one now that all parties understand the situation well enough. There is close to zero chance of South Korea going to war with China even if the US insists on one. But that relies on China being able to contain NK.
The number of Japanese military assets like F-35s does however concern China. But again China's issue with Japan and vice versa has really changed in the last 40 years. I don't see the two fighting it out either even if things go way south in the disputed regions. There's just way too many corporate and economic interests involved to risk anything serious. Plus the Japanese are actually not dumb or going to play US puppet if things actually go bad. The only real threat to China in every sphere of interest remains the US. But ironically the US needs the flashpoint of Koreas, Japan, and or Taiwan to trigger a real war with China. The US is least likely to have a direct war with China unless it is jumping in to "protect" those other sovereign nations. It requires an excuse and China's not been dumb enough so far to walk into that trap yet. If one day it actually does for whatever provocation or reason, you can bet they would be very sure of their abilities to at least even the playing field.
So basically while the proliferation of advanced weapons around China by the US and her Asian allies have become a conventional problem of "catch up" for China, it doesn't actually threaten China's sovereignty. If the gap is widened so far that it does, China will become belligerent like Russia has been recently. For now it appears still focused on internal issues and development, only reacting to provocations and unilateral moves made by its neighbours like the history of the disputed islands and oceans. Without initial provocations from Vietnam and Japan in the respective disputes, there would have not been such drastic military build up by China of fortified islands. It ISN'T China that first poured concrete and fortified disputed waters and islands (Vietnam) and it ISN'T China that unilaterally allowed their own citizens and corporations from purchasing disputed islands either (Philippines and Japan). Combine that with the obvious military posturing from Taiwan and the "PACRIM" blocks since 1980s, all of this strengthened Chinese leadership in taking these matters as the genuine threats that they are. I'm certain Chinese leadership and military is far more worried about USN and to a lesser extent, Japanese military, than it is about F-35s in Korea. These nations are neighbours, they live next to each other and develop a different sort of agreeability. It is recognised by both Japan and South Korea that a prosperous and stable China is the best China to live with. A warring east Asia could spell death for both their nations. There will come a day when leaders in Japan and South Korea begin to move away from the US led rhetoric when they come to terms of the reality of US interests in ruining this region of the world. This has not fully sunk in yet due to senior age leaders and memories of yesteryear's Communism and that old Chinese/NK communism. If China is smart enough, they will become increasing agreeable and diplomatic with both Japan and South Korea. Resolving the NK issue is at the heart of diffusing the main source of fear and instability in east Asia.
The number of Japanese military assets like F-35s does however concern China. But again China's issue with Japan and vice versa has really changed in the last 40 years. I don't see the two fighting it out either even if things go way south in the disputed regions. There's just way too many corporate and economic interests involved to risk anything serious. Plus the Japanese are actually not dumb or going to play US puppet if things actually go bad. The only real threat to China in every sphere of interest remains the US. But ironically the US needs the flashpoint of Koreas, Japan, and or Taiwan to trigger a real war with China. The US is least likely to have a direct war with China unless it is jumping in to "protect" those other sovereign nations. It requires an excuse and China's not been dumb enough so far to walk into that trap yet. If one day it actually does for whatever provocation or reason, you can bet they would be very sure of their abilities to at least even the playing field.
So basically while the proliferation of advanced weapons around China by the US and her Asian allies have become a conventional problem of "catch up" for China, it doesn't actually threaten China's sovereignty. If the gap is widened so far that it does, China will become belligerent like Russia has been recently. For now it appears still focused on internal issues and development, only reacting to provocations and unilateral moves made by its neighbours like the history of the disputed islands and oceans. Without initial provocations from Vietnam and Japan in the respective disputes, there would have not been such drastic military build up by China of fortified islands. It ISN'T China that first poured concrete and fortified disputed waters and islands (Vietnam) and it ISN'T China that unilaterally allowed their own citizens and corporations from purchasing disputed islands either (Philippines and Japan). Combine that with the obvious military posturing from Taiwan and the "PACRIM" blocks since 1980s, all of this strengthened Chinese leadership in taking these matters as the genuine threats that they are. I'm certain Chinese leadership and military is far more worried about USN and to a lesser extent, Japanese military, than it is about F-35s in Korea. These nations are neighbours, they live next to each other and develop a different sort of agreeability. It is recognised by both Japan and South Korea that a prosperous and stable China is the best China to live with. A warring east Asia could spell death for both their nations. There will come a day when leaders in Japan and South Korea begin to move away from the US led rhetoric when they come to terms of the reality of US interests in ruining this region of the world. This has not fully sunk in yet due to senior age leaders and memories of yesteryear's Communism and that old Chinese/NK communism. If China is smart enough, they will become increasing agreeable and diplomatic with both Japan and South Korea. Resolving the NK issue is at the heart of diffusing the main source of fear and instability in east Asia.
10 000 $/hour difference from F-15 flight hours cost means 80 000 000 $ difference in ownership cost over the lifetime of the aircraft. ( IF can fly 8000 hours, there is still a big question mark about that for the B/C version)
And by all reports the F-35 /F-22 require more flight hours to train the pilots to be able to use it as intended than the F-15.
Jura The idiot
General
let me repeat the question from Yesterday at 7:47 AM
Japan stands-up first operational F-35A unit
is behind paywall
OK the question is how many F-35As is there now in
?
because most of the Jane's story
Japan stands-up first operational F-35A unit
is behind paywall
OK the question is how many F-35As is there now in
?
Jura The idiot
General
I now happened to notice (the link is ) about, quote
March 30-31: Melbourne Air and Space Show, Florida
What's big: Lockheed Martin's super-sophisticated fifth generation F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jet now has a USAF touring demonstration team. the F-35 demo team's official North American debut, according to organizers.
The F-35 has been called the most expensive weapons system in history, partially due to delays in development. Not only is it stealthy and agile, the F-35's sensor technology allows pilots to virtually "see" through the floor of the jet to spot potential threats and targets on the ground.
The USAF F-35 demo team flies the A version of the plane. The B version, flown by the US Marine Corps, can hover and land vertically, if necessary.
unquote
March 30-31: Melbourne Air and Space Show, Florida
What's big: Lockheed Martin's super-sophisticated fifth generation F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jet now has a USAF touring demonstration team. the F-35 demo team's official North American debut, according to organizers.
The F-35 has been called the most expensive weapons system in history, partially due to delays in development. Not only is it stealthy and agile, the F-35's sensor technology allows pilots to virtually "see" through the floor of the jet to spot potential threats and targets on the ground.
The USAF F-35 demo team flies the A version of the plane. The B version, flown by the US Marine Corps, can hover and land vertically, if necessary.
unquote
Brumby
Major
By my count 12 units would have been delivered by end 2018 with another 6 this year.
timepass
Brigadier
US suspends F-35 deliveries to Turkey over Russian S-400s purchase – Pentagon..
The United States has reportedly stopped shipping equipment related to the F-35 fighter jet to Turkey. Washington’s move comes after Ankara insisted on purchasing the Russian S-400 missile defense system.
The United States has reportedly stopped shipping equipment related to the F-35 fighter jet to Turkey. Washington’s move comes after Ankara insisted on purchasing the Russian S-400 missile defense system.