I found out long ago that you can write highly technical pieces while still allowing someone new to the subject matter to feel like:

If you are facing a russian armored unit, chances are you won’t be safe at 22km either as they move under the umbrella of Tunguskas(soon Pantsirs), TORs and sometimes Buk.

Yes, it is the primary weapon but its a design requirement born from near-desperation as planners looked at potential missile loads/inventory and the number of Russian tanks that could flood the Fulda Gap.

I am not sure where you got your info, but there were also many “new at the time” tanks in Iraq during Desert Storm. They had Russian tanks, French tanks and other armor from many other countries that was just as good as ours, as farm as armor goes. They did not have the tech nor the advanced weapons we did, but they…

Unfortunately engineers have determined that they gun can’t be fired in flight, and is projected to cost 500% more than was initially expected.

Financially supporting terrorism hasn’t been a problem for our relationship with Arabian allies...

I’ve already taken my share of courses on geopolitics. What about you? I’m not asking about regional politics either. I’m asking purely from a tech standpoint.

I’m not that upset with WVR performance. Are you? Are you really? I was never under the illusion that would be capable of fighting and winning in a phone booth with a MiG-35. I was under the impression that it would accel at BVR, all forms of tactical strike, and be capable of defending itself it got jumped in a WVR…

And you put tons of emphasis on all this A2/AD shit as the golden bullet.

What? The numbers very much so are in our favor. We bring more assets to the fight. We can bring better assets to the fight and we’re more capable of replacing losses in men and machines. The Cold War this is not.

“and gone directly to UCAVs. We don’t need a fighter at all.”

I love that the title of your story is that the official response is “misleading” - while you link to the War Is Boring story with an official title that is criminally misleading/misinformation, “New stealth fighter is dead meat in an air battle.”

Tyler, once again you’re on point. This is kind of a big deal. Having the “SoD” at SunValley may very well be one of the first steps in a new era for the Pentagon. Obviously, only time will tell what comes of this. But the potential is there...

absolutely! Shoot me an email at tyler@jalopnik.com

Great article, Tyler. I'd be interested in contacting Dustin Gulley. I'm a manager at an aerospace engineering company, and we would be interested in someone like Dustin, especially given his experience with the F-35 airframe. Is there a way I can contact you directly in order to get his information? Thank you!

‘This young man,’ is a proud Marine, a patriot, and a smart cookie.

Actually you could not be more wrong. Everyone has an opinion, just because Dustin’s is different than your’s or mine does not mean he is a tool for anyone. Nobody edited his comments and he is not even in the service anymore.

Thanks for your service, Devil. Your manner and prose definitely make the Corps proud. I know the initial transition to 1st CivDiv is challenging, but you will come through, I’m sure of it.

I’d kill for $40k and Health/Dental in this area.

Like I’ve mentioned here before, I miss being stationed at Vandenberg. The sheer beauty and raw power of our world-ending technology is awesome - in the truest sense of the word.