Message posted by Jason on February 02, 2006 at 7:58:48 PST:
Although the F-22 Raptor is the replacement for the F-15's, the F-35 JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) designed by Lockheed Martin, is the primary aircraft designed for air to ground support. All three are capable of air to ground sortees, but the mainstay of Air to Ground combat belongs to the F-16, which the F-35 is designed to replace. There are four variants of the JSF being designed - one for the Air Force (replacement for the F-16), one for the Navy (for conjunction with its F-18C Hornets), one for the Marines to replace its variant of the Hornet and its aging AV-8 Harriers, and a variant for Royal Air Force and Navy. A primary need for the F-35 is its increased long range fuel capabilities for carrier based operation (much better than the F-18's)The JSF also borrows much of the technologies incorporated into the F-22, making it more affordable.
In Reply to: Re: Recent visit to Area 51 posted by Jason on February 02, 2006 at 7:41:48 PST:
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