Not TS by any means as it is openly available info, although some years out of date. Let’s keep the snark to a minimum, please.
I said a possibility not a certainty for the F-18. Note the difference.
NO. The 35 is nowhere near stealthy enough (nor was it designed to) to get anywhere near a 300PMU2 or S400 Triumf system before the Raptors come in and take out the acquisition radars - ranging out to 250 miles or more. You are also assuming that the 35s get by the swarms of MiGs and SUs - again not something the 35 was designed to do.
All those “stand off “ munitions which cannot fit within the weapons bay now hanging off the wings makes for low stealth, if any.
Drones can be jammed or compromised.
“Not TS by any means as it is openly available info, although some years out of date. Let’s keep the snark to a minimum, please.”
Any accurate radar signature information for the F-35 is highly classified. Cite your sources.
“I said a possibility not a certainty for the F-18. Note the difference.”
There is no “possibility”.
“NO. The 35 is nowhere near stealthy enough (nor was it designed to) to get anywhere near a 300PMU2 or S400 Triumf system before the Raptors come in and take out the acquisition radars - ranging out to 250 miles or more.”
The F-35 is designed to have excellent frontal stealth. That is to say that when approaching SAM sites they will have a comparable signature to F-22s. They can launch weapons from dozens of miles away, to precision strike the radar. Stealth is not all or nothing, it simply serves to reduce acquisition ranges.
There is also low-level flight, which eliminates radar as a threat beyond twenty miles range or so in most cases.
“You are also assuming that the 35s get by the swarms of MiGs and SUs - again not something the 35 was designed to do.”
The F-35 is designed to be part of a combined arms system. It can certainly launch air-to-air weapons, but there may also be other assets to assist with air superiority.
“All those “stand off “ munitions which cannot fit within the weapons bay now hanging off the wings makes for low stealth, if any.”
That’s not correct, both SDBs and JDAMs fit in the bays.
“Drones can be jammed or compromised.”
Perhaps, not if properly designed though. Especially the autonomous variety...