Thread: America - Making the World Safer - F35A Ready for Combat

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) -- The F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter aircraft was declared ‘combat ready’ by Gen. Hawk Carlisle, the commander of Air Combat Command, Aug 2.

Carlisle lauded the aircraft’s performance, noting that the aircraft had met all key criteria for reaching initial operational capability: Airmen trained, manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses in a contested environment with an operational squadron of 12-24 aircraft; the ability to deploy and conduct operational missions using program of record weapons and missions systems; and having all necessary logistics and operational elements in place.

“I am proud to announce this powerful new weapons system has achieved initial combat capability,” Carlisle said. “The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory because it can go where our legacy aircraft cannot and provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield.”

The F-35A is the latest addition to ACC’s fleet of deployable and fifth-generation aircraft. It provides air superiority, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and close air support as well as great command and control functions through fused sensors, and it will provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness of the battlespace that will be more extensive than any single-seat platform in existence.

“Bringing the F-35A to initial combat readiness is a testament to our phenomenal Airmen and the outstanding support of the Joint Program Office and our enterprise partners. This important milestone for our fighter force ensures the United States, along with our allies and international partners, remains prepared to deter, deny, and defeat the full spectrum of growing threats around the globe," added Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.

Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein, said that dynamic new capability will benefit the joint warfighter.

"The combat ready F-35A is the latest fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the Air Force's inventory and provides our nation air dominance in any environment. The F-35A brings an unprecedented combination of lethality, survivability, and adaptability to joint and combined operations, and is ready to deploy and strike well-defended targets anywhere on Earth," Goldfein said. "Today's declaration of IOC is an important milestone on the road to achieving full warfighting capability for the F-35A.”

The 34th Fighter Squadron of the 388th Fighter Wing, based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the service’s first operational F-35A squadron, having met all the established criteria for initial operational capability including a successful June deployment to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and a series of eight-aircraft sorties held in mid-July. 34th FS Airmen will fly and maintain the F-35A alongside Air Force Reservists from Hill’s 419th Fighter Wing.

"Our Airmen have worked tirelessly to make sure our aircraft are combat ready: meeting challenges head-on and completing all the required milestones," said Col. David Lyons, the 388th Fighter Wing commander. "We're very proud that the Air Force has declared us combat ready and we're prepared to take this aircraft wherever it's needed in support of our national defense."

Those sentiments were echoed by Col. David Smith, the 419th FW commander. “It's an honor to fly and maintain the F-35 with our active-duty counterparts here at Hill,” Smith said. “Our units were the first to fly combat-ready F-16s nearly 40 years ago, and we're very proud to have made history once again in bringing the Air Force's newest fighter jet to IOC.”

Another American accomplishment, simply the best fighter in the world!

Originally Posted by CSFFan

provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield.”

The "modern battlefield" has zero need for a $180 mil per copy plane. Great aircraft but the military really needs to stop fighting the last war. They just can't seem to get over the habit.

It's a pile of shit and plagued with problems, but if they don't get some into service then someone is going to start asking what the fuck they're getting for their $400 BILLION.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by CSFFan

provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield.”

The "modern battlefield" has zero need for a $180 mil per copy plane. Great aircraft but the military really needs to stop fighting the last war. They just can't seem to get over the habit.

Indeed.
The obvious tends to be blinded.

The world would certainly be safer if the Yanks [and associates] would mind their own business.

Invented enemies.
Perpetual war for perpetual peace.
Propping up the imperial machine.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Invented enemies.

Would you consider ISIS an invented enemy?

"That's what the F35 will do to ya".

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

"That's what the F35 will do to ya".

And that's to a red blooded American General....could you imagine what it would do to a French guy?

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Invented enemies.

Would you consider ISIS an invented enemy?

You're waxing rhetorically, Top? ....or maybe not.

Well understood that ISIS was indirectly created by the Americans and their underhanded activities in the region....

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Well understood that ISIS was indirectly created by the Americans and their underhanded activities in the region....

So people all across the African and Middle East states decided that something America did warranted an uprising against their governments, even when their governments were less than supportive of America's influence upon their country?

My contention is this:

ISIS started its shit, which gave both America and Russia cause to support their allies.

This gave the military a way to train its pilots/special forces/etc a way to train that, while under live fire, is basically a very serious training exercise due to the lack of technology by ISIS.

Now that the F-35 is on board, it will expand the ways the forces of evil can be attacked....

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Well understood that ISIS was indirectly created by the Americans and their underhanded activities in the region....

So people all across the African and Middle East states decided that something America did warranted an uprising against their governments, even when their governments were less than supportive of America's influence upon their country?

My contention is this:

ISIS started its shit, which gave both America and Russia cause to support their allies.

This gave the military a way to train its pilots/special forces/etc a way to train that, while under live fire, is basically a very serious training exercise due to the lack of technology by ISIS.

Now that the F-35 is on board, it will expand the ways the forces of evil can be attacked....

Unfortunate, that you [and most others] don't recognize who the true evil forces might be.

Sad and delusional.

F35A..... Hoooya!



Too cool for school!



Almost exactly 1 year since the F35B got its hover freak thang on!

the a-10 will still shit on it for ground support which is what is mainly needed out of aircraft now

ship and aircraft destruction can be done with missiles

Originally Posted by baldrick

the a-10 will still shit on it for ground support which is what is mainly needed out of aircraft now

You got it. The "modern war" is no longer a war of stealth, EW, air to air superiority and sophistcated air defense penetration. The enemy has no air force and no air defense other than some manpads. Hell even an aging warthog is more than sufficient to do the job of protecting ground troops engaged in "modern warfare". US Marines are fed up with the US Air Force driven F35. Just isn't up to snuff for needs of ground troops. Not surprising given USAF has never seen it a priority. I see the jarheads are bringing mothballed A10s out. Good for them. Smart move.

Will Israel get a few, I mean there is an international need for this aircraft .

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Invented enemies.

Would you consider ISIS an invented enemy?

Manufactured, not invented; and irrelevant, much like bin Laden at the time of his execution. If IS is ever destroyed, which would be by preventing expansion (ie any and all movement beyond its held borders) before moving in as it turns on itself, there are other groups waiting to fill the vacuum with IS's ready made constitution (pure Sharia), infrastructure, and resurgence of faith.

ISIS’s precursor, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, emerged in 2004 to resist the American occupation. Led by Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian, the group consisted of Sunnis, many of them disgruntled former Iraqi soldiers left without paychecks after the Bush administration disbanded the Iraqi army. Using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices, Zarqawi and his recruits attacked American troops and Shiite mosques in a bid to expel American soldiers, foment a sectarian war and establish an Islamic caliphate in Iraq.

From : The ISIS Creation Myth

So there you go if there had been no occupation of Iraq, which we are now told was a mistake, there would have been no ISIS.

Armchair critics are noted for for their short attention span so you blokes are not likely to watch these 3 short films. I'll put it out there for any one with a genuine interest in the capabilities and potential of this awesome fighter.
The UK will initially buy the F35B variant for RN carrier and RAF general ops thus creating interoperability.
It is a fine aircraft with considerable future proofing.

Originally Posted by CSFFan

My contention is this:

ISIS started its shit, which gave both America and Russia cause to support their allies.

So how is this new toy going to help, or will it have the potential to make things worse ?

After all it is designed to kill people more efficiently and it will be used by those who get their hands on for just that purpose.

So who will want it, well the Saudis will be in, they still have unfinished business destroying Yemen and spreading the Sunni version of Islam by whatever force is needed. Israel will need them to ensure dominance over anyone they think may oppose them. Britain will be coerced in to buying them like a good puppy on a string, unless the new Govt can find enough spine to resist.

The US will have them because...Well they are the greatest they have the most nukes, the most chemical weapons (although they would never use them...unless) and they need to show their dominance because they think of themselves as the worlds policemen and as such have a god given right to bomb the crap out of anyone they choose

A number of Western air forces have already pre ordered and also have pilot training ongoing. They include UK, Australia, Italy, Norway, Denmark, and Netherlands. Turkey may have to go to the back of the queue and Canada are wavering.
UK is a level 1 partner nation involved in the design stage, and Rolls Royce and BAe are providing some of the hardware. The Israeli's will no doubt buy them to install their own specs in certain areas.
The F35 is a fifth generation, multi role fighter aircraft. It replaces numerous obsolescent types, including the A10, and will probably replace current mid life variants from Rafaele/Desault to Eurofighter Typhoon.
Enemies? Look no further than the increasingly belligerent Russian Federation, and a rapidly acquisitive China, and any non aligned gulf state for starters.

Originally Posted by TheDukeofNewcastle

and a rapidly acquisitive China

I'm guessing that's where the next conflagration will occur.

It's only a guess on my part, but I'm absolutely sure there's no chance of ISIS's radar systems will be able to spot one. The F-35 is just that good.

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Now that the F-35 is on board, it will expand the ways the forces of evil can be attacked....

And throwing more and more deadly hardware at the problem has worked so well every time the US has done it over the last 70 years...

Originally Posted by cyrille

And throwing more and more deadly hardware at the problem has worked so well every time the US has done it over the last 70 years...

See, even Cyrille agrees with me! The first big hardware thrown around was the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan. Now, we have "Hello Kitty"...do you think the two events are coincidence?

Not only is it more deadly but even more profitable to the military/industrial complex and at only 180 million per ride, it's a bargain.

Let's face it, it someone gave 180 million to something like the Baltimore school district to improve teacher's salaries and the schools they work in, the money would just be pissed away on something trivial as education.