You do know that the outcomes of those exercises are pre-determined? That they are tests of various tactic, strategies weapons and systems, and not about which fighter is better than the other?
Classification, smasification. The F-35 was designed to be the follow-on bomb truck after the F-22 achieved air supremacy and take out the remaining AAAD - look it up.
I did not mention ladening the plane with all the possible external load outs because that would destroy any semblance of stealth.
The F-35s are out-ranged by the long range missiles (Vympel R-37s) MiG-31BMs pack - in fact, there was a story on FR about how planners have no intention of using F-35s in a peer to peer conflict as they would be lost quickly.
We're just sending them up to follow a script? Why even train pilots then? Sounds like they are going to be woefully unprepared in combat if you are correct. In that case, might as well send them into combat in old planes so that at least we're not costing the tax payers as much.
Classification, smasification. The F-35 was designed to be the follow-on bomb truck after the F-22 achieved air supremacy and take out the remaining AAAD - look it up.
This is not unlike the high/low mix of USAF F-15's and F-16's / USN F-14's and F/A-18's, no? By this logic, the F-16's and F/A-18's also simply bomb trucks. (This of course is not the case, and the F-35 is much, much more than a bomb truck.)
I did not mention ladening the plane with all the possible external load outs because that would destroy any semblance of stealth.
This is circular logic. Stealth doesn't matter but you can't mention the external stores because it would remove the stealth features.
Well, which is it? Does stealth offer a significant advantage? (If so, then the F-35 has a significant advantage over fourth gen fighters even with only four missiles.) Or does stealth offer little to no advantage? (If that's the case, then might as well load up those optional external stores and stop saying it can only hold four missiles.) Make up your mind!
The F-35s are out-ranged by the long range missiles (Vympel R-37s) MiG-31BMs pack
Not entirely sure what you're saying here... no air to air missile has the range of an aircraft, so do you mean the R-37 out-ranges the missiles that the F-35 carries? (Such as the AIM-120 and AIM-9) If that's what you mean, then well the F-15, F-16, F/A-18 and F-22 are outranged too.
So with the R-37 in mind... wouldn't you rather be in a stealth aircraft to avoid detection until your AIM-120's could be fired? Wouldn't you also prefer to be in the aircraft with the better sensor suites?
in fact, there was a story on FR
Must be true then. Are we sure we read past the headline though?
about how planners have no intention of using F-35s in a peer to peer conflict as they would be lost quickly.
If you're going to send in the F-35 to meet its peer in combat, well at least the F-35 will have F-22's to cover them. We all know there is no peer to the F-22. I think those F-35's will do just fine.