F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread

[Air Force Brat]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

As a realist, you could not possilbly misinterpret the real aim behind these advanced complex technology-dump fighter jets. "Reginal conflict"? what do you mean? the conflict in Afghanistan, Yumen, Syria, or the Somali pirates? I do not know that stealth work against AK-47, rpgs and camelback riders. These are the machine made for a world war, a pounding between the heavy weight.

Is that legitmate reason for developing advance weaponry? Of course it is. The legitmate reason for China to develop 5th gen fighter is the apparent air-superiority of USA and the possibility of a invasion by sea. And the reason for US to spend so much on defense budget is the China's developing military capability(as DoD emphasized themsalve before its every budget grab). so it goes round and round. A powerful dog been chasing its tail. Familiar scenerio?

World was never perfect, nor is my intent to picture it as. I just want to keep the score on what sanity really is. The sanity does not require us to "love thy neighbour". We hate each other's guts as it is. But if we're still sane, we can still resort to rationality. "look, we don't need to be friends, but this aren't going to end well for both of us, can we stop togather before it is too late." That talk doesn't require love, it only require rationality. But we don't want rationality, do we? Talks are for the weak. We live in mad world and It's mad because we make it so. Let's keep that score and have a better idea when people start to recount things before the war and someone say things like "I didn't have a choice."

Finally, none of my comment are made against persons at this forum. I don't hold anything against any of you. I apologize if I came off as wanting you to feel bad about your military enthusiasm. I love wars, I love reading about wars, gaming about wars and fantasizing about wars because I am, as unfortunately as it sounds, a human male. However, the point I want to dispute whenever I see the chance is the idea that wars and weapons are rational choice made by responsible people. War has nothing to do with rationality just as weapons has nothing to do with necessity. Let's keep that mark straight and debate it as much as we need. Let's have a clear sense of whether war is a good thing, then to enjoy the talks of war. That way, we know it's all entertainment, we know we can be relaxed and just be ourslaves.

I appreciate your thoughted response, and guys do like guns and airplanes, ships, tanks, etc, etc,, also your call to rational discussion about the absolute horrors of warfare, and it is a rat-race, the book of Isaiah the Prophet in the 2nd Chapter says and they shall not learn war anymore. It talks about swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, so I think many of us dream of the day when we will no longer fear the enemy, and Ronald Reagan used the phrase "peace through strength", which does contain at least a certain "rationale". I certainly hold no delusions that war is good, but mankinds own nature seems to lead us to conflict???? Brat

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

First Ahadicow, I joined this forum as I am a unpublished would be writer who never finished writing his great failure of a techno thriller, And a student of history. The latter being more my interest. I also love gear infantry gear and fire arms. Really I could care less if its armed or not.

That however is just me. Now to the topic at hand.

I cannot say why the Chinese or Russians are working on there systems but I feel pretty confident that the US is not targeting China or Russia. Why? Because if that were the case they should be insulted!! F 35 is not the weapon you would need F22 is. So who do you fight with the F35? North Korea & Iran. Nation's who have spent time and money to procure semi modern air defense systems. Systems that are also becoming more and more available as both the Russians and Chinese sell them off to any one with the money to buy them. The lessons me the A-stan and Iraq are being studied and lesson one is don't let the US over your head.

 

[bd popeye]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Some fresh pix of the "B" bird in Yuma AZ during testing..sorry no captions.

 

[bd popeye]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Great photos! I've been following your post for years bd looks like a private collection.

 

[delft]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

No, they will NOT cut the B, the STOVL version, because the Brits two newest carriers have been designed with ramps to operate the B, and not cats to operate the C. The Brits will be crossdecking with the US and will CO-OP to both our benefit, so if it were just the US Marines I might think huummmh, but since the Brits are invested in 48Bs, they will most certainly get their birds, as they are our most important partner, even though others may order more aircraft, and AUS is close behind, although they have planned on the A and have two in the system, Great Britain will most certainly follow through on their commitment, others may not????? but we shall see. Now having said that, almost all the other customers will cut the numbers of birds ordered, especially in the initial LRIPs and try to hold off and buy when the costs come down, I believe AUS will do that and tide themselves over with SHornets in the meantime?

Bogdan is playing "bad cop" for the BHO administration who told him to strong-arm LockMart, now BHOs lack of business savvy is out there for all to see, he doesn't understand schmoozing the contractor and trying to play buds to get what you want, LockMart may play hardball with Bogdan and BHO, and in fact BHO may try a company takeover just as he did with GM, when he took it from the stockholders and owners and gave it to the unions, this was unprecedented and hypocritical, but there is little doubt he is trying to "stiff them for some payments", so this could get very ugly with sequestration and high unemployment, govt income will come down? Your are reading the tea leaves and yes there will be cuts, who, and how many are the question IMHO???? Brat

Remember Skybolt?

 

[Air Force Brat]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Some fresh pix of the "B" bird in Yuma AZ during testing..sorry no captions.

Fighters are twice as much fun in a two ship, nothing quite like the double take when the first one grabs ya, then the second ship instant replay catches you again, we lived under the Howard MOA her in Central Obamastan, before that goofy Rod B ran the 183rd off they where based at Springfield, nothing made a day on the farm like a coupla two ships on an oil burner route, I think the speed limit was 450knts, you never heard the F-16s coming, but ya could sure hear them going!!

I fact the MacDonald aircraft co was in St. Loius, and we are about 40 nautical straight North, so we had frequent visitors, especially when they first started flying the F-15s, some days you could hear them playing, an F-15 and usually a chase or two. The first F-15 I saw, I was wondering who had the Mig-25, that was in 1973. Brat

 

[Equation]

Re: Asia's F-35 buyers forced to wait as China seeks edge

The obvious paradox of F-35 program is that US is going to pay for the most of its development while benefiting least from it. Any nation that are "partners" of F-35 program need F-35 more than US do because they don't have stealth fighter of their own. US has the least use of F-35. It doesn't need F-35 for small conflict with much weaker opponents such as Tailiban. With strong opponents such as China and Russia, you want to send in the best of the best, the cutting edge. Then, why would you want to send in F-35 when you can send in F-22? All the medium-sized power that F-35 would just be a fit to fight against are already US allies. Thus, F-35 does not fit the US strategic outlook, does not fit US pocket and does not make sense for american tax-payers. The criticism this program has gathered is well-deserved. Wasting money is not excusiable from "left" or "right" prospective. Those money, if cannot spend on anything that make people's live better, could at least spend on "anti-terrorism" or other proven technology and assets. It's a giant misuse of resources. How can people not see LM get away with murder at the expanse of interest of american public? To which point does LM has to push its profitiability before american tax payer would finally have enough?

Lets just wait and see. I say it's still too early to past final judgement on the F-35 program. Remember it's a development of 3 planes in one budget, although in one air frame.

 

[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

However, the point I want to dispute whenever I see the chance is the idea that wars and weapons are rational choice made by responsible people. War has nothing to do with rationality just as weapons has nothing to do with necessity. Let's keep that mark straight and debate it as much as we need. Let's have a clear sense of whether war is a good thing, then to enjoy the talks of war.

War is, sadly, a necessary thing to be prepared for...precisely because we live in an imperfect workld.

Simple as that.

I would love as in individual to give up all my own firearms...but, alas, becasue there are crminals who will try and take what is rightfully mine, the labor of my own hands...or who would try and harm my loved ones...I must remain prepared to confront them because a call to 911 just assures a criminal that he/she is going to have 9-11 minutes do have their way with me and mine unless I personally am in a position to stop them.

I will never willingly give up that right and power to defend myself...until (in my faith) Jesus Christ returns to this Earth and we can truly beat all weapons into plowshares because all wickedness will be done away. Until then...I must be prepared...and that means owning and being trained in the use of firearms.

For this reason, I teach my sons and daughterss, and my wife...and now my grandsons and daughters to be equally prepared. Not because they are "neat," not because they are fun (though they can be fun through sport shooting, and I also enjoy hunting and bringing home meat for my family)...but mainly because it could literally mean the diference between life or death should a mad man or woman try and harm us.

Nation's defense systems are for precisely the same reasons. Of course we do not want war. Of course it is not fun...or a good thing. But there are worse things. Like to have no defense and be overrun by a tyranical regime who enslaves and slaughters you and there is not a darn thing you can do about it.

Sadly...that's the way the world is...and history proves it so...and we must learn from history and be prepared.

There is nothing irrational in any of that. It is actually true realism because the human condition is in fact imperfect. And as I say, until that event I spoke of earlier occurs and all evil is done away...we'd best be prepared...and thus Reagan's statement, "Peace through strength."

Just as a criminal, if he knows at my home we are armed and prepared to defend ourselves (and we post it) and use deadly force to keep that criminal from harming us, will go somewhere else to avoid that danger...nation state's will do the same if they think the prospect is strong that they will fail and be defeated should they try and take advantage of other nations.

That's the rational thought behind individuals and nations being well armed and prepared for war...in the hopess and prayers that will be enought to avoid it altogether.

But, even then we must be vigilant, particularly in a Republic where we have the power to curtail and control our government...that we, as Samuel Adams said long ago, never allow any but those who are virtuous and of good and of strong moral character into positions of power through our vote...so they will not be tempted to take advantage of the power we reserve to dissuade external enemies...and abuse that trust and use it for ill gain.

This is the great danger, and one we must constantly be on guard for...and quite frankly where most nation's fail...becuase the people of nations, even in a totalitarian regime, have the power to stop it, as we saw as the Soviet Union was falling and the crisis came there in Moscow when troops could have fired on their own people and kept the old guard in power...that they did not, and the old mad Bear was defanged and has now been replaced by a more peaceful Bear...even if there still are differences. There will always be differences until that time comes.

We must always remain vigilant and be willing to stand and do the same so that our natural right and rational means to self defense is not ever abused.

If it is...we must rise up and stop it...but that does not mean we should end being well prepared and have our defenses also prepared for external threats.

Because both threats...the external one from tyrants, or the rise of tyranny amongst us, are both equal. This is actually also the principle reasons in the US Constitution, the right to be armed is enumerated...because those people back then wanted to ensure that should the people fail in their voting, or civil means to stop government abuse, collectively, they would be able to do so through those means should it become necessary.

I pray it never does...but similarly to my prayer that a criminal never besets us...I stand prepared to do so should we be left with no other choice.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Speaking of readiness thoughout the whole F35 program I have been wondering. Given the limitations of the aircraft and it shear numbers and fact it is targeted to replace just about every thing would the three US services not need to maintain a number of operational either vintage or specially procured fighter aircraft to engage and maintain DACT? And if so which platforms ? Would they use the future T-X, maintain F16s and expanding there use by the Navy and Marines to replace the very old F5 or run a special buy of some other platform like the flanker or fulcrum?

 

[delft]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

War is, sadly, a necessary thing to be prepared for...precisely because we live in an imperfect workld.

Simple as that.

I would love as in individual to give up all my own firearms...but, alas, becasue there are crminals who will try and take what is rightfully mine, the labor of my own hands...or who would try and harm my loved ones...I must remain prepared to confront them because a call to 911 just assures a criminal that he/she is going to have 9-11 minutes do have their way with me and mine unless I personally am in a position to stop them.

I will never willingly give up that right and power to defend myself...until (in my faith) Jesus Christ returns to this Earth and we can truly beat all weapons into plowshares because all wickedness will be done away. Until then...I must be prepared...and that means owning and being trained in the use of firearms.

For this reason, I teach my sons and daughterss, and my wife...and now my grandsons and daughters to be equally prepared. Not because they are "neat," not because they are fun (though they can be fun through sport shooting, and I also enjoy hunting and bringing home meat for my family)...but mainly because it could literally mean the diference between life or death should a mad man or woman try and harm us.

Nation's defense systems are for precisely the same reasons. Of course we do not want war. Of course it is not fun...or a good thing. But there are worse things. Like to have no defense and be overrun by a tyranical regime who enslaves and slaughters you and there is not a darn thing you can do about it.

Sadly...that's the way the world is...and history proves it so...and we must learn from history and be prepared.

There is nothing irrational in any of that. It is actually true realism because the human condition is in fact imperfect. And as I say, until that event I spoke of earlier occurs and all evil is done away...we'd best be prepared...and thus Reagan's statement, "Peace through strength."

Just as a criminal, if he knows at my home we are armed and prepared to defend ourselves (and we post it) and use deadly force to keep that criminal from harming us, will go somewhere else to avoid that danger...nation state's will do the same if they think the prospect is strong that they will fail and be defeated should they try and take advantage of other nations.

That's the rational thought behind individuals and nations being well armed and prepared for war...in the hopess and prayers that will be enought to avoid it altogether.

But, even then we must be vigilant, particularly in a Republic where we have the power to curtail and control our government...that we, as Samuel Adams said long ago, never allow any but those who are virtuous and of good and of strong moral character into positions of power through our vote...so they will not be tempted to take advantage of the power we reserve to dissuade external enemies...and abuse that trust and use it for ill gain.

This is the great danger, and one we must constantly be on guard for...and quite frankly where most nation's fail...becuase the people of nations, even in a totalitarian regime, have the power to stop it, as we saw as the Soviet Union was falling and the crisis came there in Moscow when troops could have fired on their own people and kept the old guard in power...that they did not, and the old mad Bear was defanged and has now been replaced by a more peaceful Bear...even if there still are differences. There will always be differences until that time comes.

We must always remain vigilant and be willing to stand and do the same so that our natural right and rational means to self defense is not ever abused.

If it is...we must rise up and stop it...but that does not mean we should end being well prepared and have our defenses also prepared for external threats.

Because both threats...the external one from tyrants, or the rise of tyranny amongst us, are both equal. This is actually also the principle reasons in the US Constitution, the right to be armed is enumerated...because those people back then wanted to ensure that should the people fail in their voting, or civil means to stop government abuse, collectively, they would be able to do so through those means should it become necessary.

I pray it never does...but similarly to my prayer that a criminal never besets us...I stand prepared to do so should we be left with no other choice.

A country should be strong enough to defend itself, possibly with the help of friends, but not so strong that it is tempted to occupy other countries. Vietnam needed thirty years to drive off foreign interference, Iraq recently ten years. Afghanistan is not yet free.