Alpha Kilo One wrote: ↑25 Feb 2021, 12:11 Good article about F-35....
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2 ... cec6911b16
Something already known for years:But the Air Force and Lockheed baked failure into the F-35’s very concept. “They tried to make the F-35 do too much,” said Dan Grazier, an analyst with the Project on Government Oversight in Washington, D.C.
So now we can start speculating about additional planes.“I want to moderate how much we’re using those aircraft,” Brown said.
Hence the need for a new low-end fighter to pick up the slack in day-to-day operations.
Advantages are: much lower flight hour price, slower wear on the F-35, proficiency and check flights on a dual also for staff (flight surgeon, MQ-9 pilots, high brass) Even useful a lead in fighter trainer. A lot of the not requiring " high end of the violence spectrum" efforts can be done in this type of Fighter Trainer, and also is useful as aggressor
The M-346FA looks promising as being readily available and capable of using a datalink for intercepts.
The Korean T-50 family is also available
Airbus is developing the AFJT however far away from a flying status now.
And of course our airforce is fond of Made in the USA so the Boeing T-7 Red Hawk has a chance.
The bets are on!