On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 01:25:16 GMT, Ski wrote:

I suspect the F-35 may have arrived on scene a decade or two sooner then desired.

Without the external pylons the F-35 is rather stealthy. Using the
internal weapons bay only it's a considered a "first day of war" aircraft,
meaning it can go in and strike enemy targets before their IADS has been
suppressed/destroyed.

Marry that with its world-class sensor suite and you've got a very
dangerous aircraft indeed.

Remember, before Iraq turned into an insurgency action we had to attack an
alert Iraqi air defense system. I'd rather do that in a stealthy F-35 than
in any of the current teen-fighters.

--

-Jeff B.
zoomie at fastmail fm