Marine pilots on USS America speak out about flying the F-35B

a reply to: In4ormant

There's only so much improving we can do right now with our current technology. That would be why they're 10+ years away from being able to do it.

a reply to: verschickter


I fully understand the limitations we currently have with the technology. All I am saying is that if we decided to commit to the idea of a fully autonomous air force and invested as such we would have it much sooner. It is the inevitable progression, why not commit now.

We have backyard drones we can operate with a cellphone(just pointing out a concept)
Cars that can detect and avoid collisions..

Im sure with full force funding and some top tier computer scientists and software guys we can have drones that can patrol/attack/defend threats.

originally posted by: In4ormant
a reply to: Zaphod58

I guess theres no other answer but the F35.

Smart and stealthy drones....nope
Long range smart bombs/missiles.....nope


What would we have done without it?

Kinetic bombardment from orbit.
But probably violates some treaties.

a reply to: In4ormant

They're working on it much more than you seem to think. Short of devoting the entire Air Force budget to it, it's not going to get here a lot sooner. And if they do that, all the other aircraft that are flying won't be. The current leadership would love to have an autonomous Loyal Wingman program that doesn't require the input of another aircraft's pilot and adds to his workload.

a reply to: Bluntone22

No, it doesn't, but it's also overrated.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: In4ormant

At this point, no. There will eventually be UAVs capable of doing the mission that the F-35 will do, but right now, there isn't. If they tried, they'd lose them all, over and over again for no gain. I don't see why that's so hard to understand. You're sending a signal across thousands of miles, which means there's a delay. Until they figure a way around that, there's no way to have an air to air capable UAV that can fight its way in, and hit the target.

As for nothing but the F-35, it takes 15-20 years to develop a modern aircraft. We're currently at the point where they're retiring some of the older aircraft in the inventory to have parts available for others of the same type, or that use the same parts. If we waited even 10 years to have something else even close to ready to go, we wouldn't have aircraft flying, unless we want to spend more upgrading the current inventory than they've currently spent on the F-35.

my point about the F35,was that there really hasnt been a new scenario that dictates the f35 and its capabilities as a necessity. I understand your point about maintenwnce costs so why not have a new platform. I get that. I just want to see the UAV come out of the pet project hangers and get sped up.

I have derailed this topic. I apologize.

If the boys that have to fly it are happy with it then Thats a good thing. Wouldnt want to put any of those guys up in the air in something they had no faith in.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Gotta get those velocities up!
I hope nobody else figures that out first.

a reply to: Bluntone22

From what I´ve read, it´s the precision that is a problem.

a reply to: In4ormant

There are a number of new threats that dictate a stealthy platform. The S400 is a great example. A current F-15 fleet will get hammered by an S400 before they could get within range to hit the missile site. An S400 using the 40N6 missile has a range of 250 miles, can detect and track non-stealth targets out to almost 400 miles, and can hit targets going much faster than any current aircraft or missile other than a ballistic missile can go. The current JASSM missile has a range of 230 miles. The ER will have a range of almost 600, but both require knowing where the missile site is, so that they can be programmed, as they use GPS guidance up until the terminal phase.

There are also new AESA guided air to air missiles that current radar warning systems can't detect until it's far too late. Systems on the F-35 can, and they can't be backwards engineered to older aircraft.

a reply to: Maxatoria

Maybe this planet should pick ONE computer language and make it so everyone knows how to use it to its fullest ability. Quit having computer languages de jour just to to give these kids coming out of the universities the supposed 'leg up' on an entire world of programmers already trying to do their job. As a programmer (for 35 years), I spend more time trying to figure out these new latest and greatest languages than I do solving business problems. What a waste!!

a reply to: Zaphod58

The wild weasels homed in on the radar signals didn't they?

a reply to: Bluntone22

They used their RHAW to track radar signals, then used a mix of HARM and CBU to destroy the site.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yeah but that just seems silly to me.

There's obviously more to it than that.

a reply to: suvorov

They gotta see it, to hit it. Then they have to account for pilots in those aircraft who know the capabilities of those "super" missiles and missile systems. Do you think those -35 pilots are just going to be sitting there saying "shoot me!"? Somehow, I doubt it very much.

a reply to: grey580

Just because it seems silly to you doesn't mean it's not accurate. The complexity in the computer system is the code itself, which is one reason they're using C++ for the first time. It's easier to troubleshoot, and they have more coding options than using ADA or one of the military only languages. If they were using just ADA or something similar they'd be much farther behind than they currently are.

I won't lie, I was initially "worried" about the F35, all the talk in development over cost and various other things.
It wasn't till I read an article that detailed what exactly was wrong with it and it didn't seem to have anything to do with the overall plane, basically the report was pointing out that the biggest issue was the software, just trying to get it to work.

Now, we see these new articles, to include this thread that the internal workings are finally ironed out. The pilots report mirrors that in their response to the planes software.

The F35 is certainly a beast, coupled with the F22. Sadly, you're right...we should cherish the F22 in whatever numbers they have left.

Would you say that the F35 is the successor to the F22? Or is the F22 in its own quasi category/state.

a reply to: Zaphod58

They really needed to of picked a language ages ago, C++ is more popular than ADA (ADA is easier to code) but also you have to remember you need the compiler to be as tight as possible to to produce the best code as every second is vital when you're pulling all sorts of stunts.

I doubt theres been anyone really trained in ADA since 2000 but c/c++ is popular to a degree still so at least you'd get someone in 20-30 years who can understand the code.

a reply to: Arnie123

It's complementary to it. It's a similar role to what the F-15C/F-15E play. The F-15A-C is an air superiority fighter, that can occasionally drop a couple bombs, like the F-22, while the F-15E is a bomb truck, that can defend itself. You send in the F-15C (F-22) and clear the airspace, then the E (F-35) comes through and hammers the crap out of the targets.

a reply to: Maxatoria

I think the F-35 program is going to drive home that they need to change to a COTS system. The problems they've had have been resolved quicker by using C instead of just ADA.