Re:Pentagon Puts F-35 Full-Rate Production Decision on Hold
by baybal2 on Saturday January 02, 2021 @08:54PM
(#25618617)
F-35 combat range is "only" 1000km, and will get smaller with heavier munitions.
Say, you get 500km range if you want to drop 20t of bombs, have 8 planes, and want to have safety margins.
500km is easily within the range of even the most primitive tactical missile like Oka, and retaliatory airstrikes.
On other hand, you will have a very busy forward airfield, with tiny airstrip, with a lot of very expensive planes, and long times to sortie, and very close to the enemy.
Say, you get 500km range if you want to drop 20t of bombs, have 8 planes, and want to have safety margins.
500km is easily within the range of even the most primitive tactical missile like Oka, and retaliatory airstrikes.
On other hand, you will have a very busy forward airfield, with tiny airstrip, with a lot of very expensive planes, and long times to sortie, and very close to the enemy.