The US will use F-35s in aggressor squadrons and there are interesting parts in the article.
"The two F-35s painted in the new scheme are of an older batch and will not be upgraded to the Block 4 configuration, an Air Force official said. Their degree of stealth makes them a good stand-in for China’s J-20 or FC-31, he said."
What I understand: Chinese 5th gens' level of stealth is comparable to early F-35s which are less stealthier than the current F-35s.
"The Air Force has also recently changed course regarding the use of commercial aggressor platforms. Several companies have been fulfilling ADAIR (short for “adversary air”) contracts for the Air Force, but the service recently decided that third- and fourth-generation types such as the Mirage F-1 and even F-16s are no longer sufficient for Air Force pilots to train against.
“What we’re finding, now … is these contracts aren’t very effective at Nellis at the high-end training”, said Lt. Gen. David S. Nahom, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 17. The older aircraft “are not providing us what we need,” he said, and USAF doesn’t plan to renew all such contracts when they expire.
China, Nahom said, has “stepped up” the capability of its combat air forces, so “we have to step up our replication” at the two “high end” threat-simulation exercises that run at Nellis and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Alaska. The contract ADAIR companies may continue work at fighter training units, where they are “very effective,” he said."
What I understand: 4th gen US aircraft and private contractors are not enough for simulating PLAAF. Indian and Taiwanese airforces should take notice.
"The two F-35s painted in the new scheme are of an older batch and will not be upgraded to the Block 4 configuration, an Air Force official said. Their degree of stealth makes them a good stand-in for China’s J-20 or FC-31, he said."
What I understand: Chinese 5th gens' level of stealth is comparable to early F-35s which are less stealthier than the current F-35s.
"The Air Force has also recently changed course regarding the use of commercial aggressor platforms. Several companies have been fulfilling ADAIR (short for “adversary air”) contracts for the Air Force, but the service recently decided that third- and fourth-generation types such as the Mirage F-1 and even F-16s are no longer sufficient for Air Force pilots to train against.
“What we’re finding, now … is these contracts aren’t very effective at Nellis at the high-end training”, said Lt. Gen. David S. Nahom, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 17. The older aircraft “are not providing us what we need,” he said, and USAF doesn’t plan to renew all such contracts when they expire.
China, Nahom said, has “stepped up” the capability of its combat air forces, so “we have to step up our replication” at the two “high end” threat-simulation exercises that run at Nellis and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Alaska. The contract ADAIR companies may continue work at fighter training units, where they are “very effective,” he said."
What I understand: 4th gen US aircraft and private contractors are not enough for simulating PLAAF. Indian and Taiwanese airforces should take notice.
