Either 2x GBU-32 1000lb JDAMs, or 2x BRU-61, each carrying 4x GBU-39 SDBs. With the SDBs, it can hit more targets, and they are very effective weapons, though the small size limits them a bit.

We absolutely need them. However, the whole mission was less efficient from a strictly military point of view. We all understood the politics, it was just frustrating to have to keep re-planning due to constantly changing demands.

I think the production version will be slightly larger, but not a great deal larger. The Japanese will have seen the cost and weight overruns on the F-35, and try to avoid that as much as humanly possible.

I don’t know the specifics behind the politics of this jet, but I know there is constant controversy surrounding it. All of that aside, we should all stop the bickering and bask in the glory of these photos. Amazing photographs and the pinnacle of aviation technology (allegedly).

Actually, it more or less has been don! The main issue is that initially, ICBMs are detected by their heat signature. Now, you can reduce your likelihood of detection by shortening the boost phase and thus lowering the time available to spot the ICBM, but you need a more powerful engine for that.

He’s a lockheed shill for pointing out things that are 100% factual? You’re a knob.

They are absolutely bad for an aircraft’s RCS.

So many kids aren’t going to get this.

When you hit the brakes, your opponent banks. They would be foolish to “fly right by”. Meanwhile, you now traveling slower, cannot produce enough lift off your wing to maintain their turn rate, allowing them the opportunity to make a counter maneuver.

Such a beautiful plane, I love that orange glow from the sun. Just perfect!

I see some real genius in your posting, JeffOwl, but I can’t say that in here.

Bit disappointing to see he isn’t smart enough to understand the French. The French have a more capable military than the Brits of Koreans, they have genuine expeditionary capability and have been holding things together in Africa for the last 5 years.

Chris Christie clearing his colon?

The twitterverse is reporting it was F35 testing over the Patuxent River in Maryland.

It’s a technology demonstrater. It’s a test bed to see what works and what wont. They intend to build a full fledge fighter based off of this design later. It’s basically like the YF 22 and we are still waiting for their “F22" for lack of a better word

This is basically why the pugachev cobra is only good for air shows I guess. So much for Maverick and his hit the brakes and he will fly right by theory I guess.

I think what is more important is 1) their comparative energy maneuverability, 2) their radar cross-sections at different orientations, and 3) their sensors.

FYI, the main reason why the F-22 is banned from export is the software. Put simply, it has zero security. You can dump the whole system simply by walking up and plugging a laptop into it (it uses FireWire, so cables are cheap and plentiful) and running the right commands. It’s inherently permissive, because it was…

It is tiny. Which is fine, it’s a tech demonstrator. But any stealth fighter needs one or more internal weapons bays, and this has no room. Any production aircraft will need to be scaled up. Comparison with other current or proposed 5th gen fighter aircraft:

Dude, it’s a technology test bed not a production prototype