Posted on 02/21/2018 12:46:25 AM PST by Berlin_Freeper
Japan plans to buy at least 20 additional F-35A stealth fighters over the next six years, some or all of which it may purchase directly from Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) in the United States rather than assemble locally, three sources said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Well they will need some VTOL versions to complement their new carrier.
The Japanese may also need F35B’s to be able to disperse their assets in case the Norks (or anybody else) succeeds in taking out their major air bases. The entire VSTOL/STOVL concept (that eventually evolved into the Harrier) was a German post-war concept. Drawing on their WW2 experience and what a Soviet invasion would look like the Germans assumed they’d have no airfields after the first 48 hrs.
How do the F35’s stand up to the Chinese J Series?
Anybody’s guess. All depends on who’s stealth is better than the other guys radar. Modern air combat is pretty much ‘first look, first shoot’ like submarine warfare has been. The J series looks like it has good frontal-aspect stealth - less so from the sides, and not at all from the rear.
We hear it’s more maneuverable, but if the fight gets that far then we always knew we were in trouble. All our chips seem to be on “Shoot ‘em in the face & run”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.