F-35 makes F-15 more lethal which makes F-35 more lethal

Great article out of the UK about the F-35A visit going on now. The F-35 is training alongside the F-15C and F-15E out of Lakenheath. In most of the scenarios they are fighting their way in to a ground target, then back out. The F-15 pilots are finding that the sensor fusion of the F-35 is radically improving their lethality. In return that makes the F-35 more lethal, by giving them more options, and allowing the F-15 to control the airspace.

They began with basic fighter combat, and have worked their way up to harder scenarios, and done some F-15 v F-35 dogfights. The F-35 is able to fly undetected to the merge, where it's able to get the advantage and frequently kill their opponent before they even know it's there. The big advantage for the F-15 comes with working together with the F-35. They're able to get a much better picture than their own sensors can give them, and make faster more accurate decisions when it comes to combat.

However as explained by Harris, F-35 pilots fly undetected to a “visual merge” and engage air targets before enemies have time to react defensively, which is an advantage over the fourth generation tactics he employed when he flew the F-16.

“All the guys we’ve flown with have said that having the F-35 in the fight has been an eye-opening experience and they’re glad that these capabilities are on their side,” Harris said.

However the most important outcome of the drill is that the training scenarios have allowed fourth and fifth generation pilots to compare notes and better prepare for future air combat.

“We fight best when we fight together. We’ve had a lot of synergy in our training. When we come back and talk after missions, we can have that face-to-face interaction and review our tactics. That’s just going to improve the way we fight with the F-35A and has made this an outstanding deployment,” Taylor concluded.

theaviationgeekclub.com...

Have they paired up F-22s with the F-35?

I heard some good things when the F-22 was in the mix.

I can't even imagine pairing up those 2 along with other fighters. Probably scarily amazing.

a reply to: grey580

They had F-22s at 17-1 with the F-35As that participated there.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Did they release any info on the two flying together?

a reply to: grey580

No. They didn't release much beyond the kill ratio to the public.

So compared to what lets say China has, does this 7th gen stuff leave them in the stone age? The skies over N Korea may become their playground soon, and the timing seems right because nobody has developed defenses against this stuff yet I assume?

a reply to: TinfoilTP

There is no 7th gen stuff. There isn't even 6th gen stuff. There are counters to any stealth system out there. Fighter sized stealth aircraft are more susceptible to low frequency radar systems, but low frequency can't be used to target missiles on them, because it's not able to track them well enough.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I'm not particularly educated on this subject but like to read a variety of topics depending on what jumps out at me at any given moment... This did! Enjoyed the read, these birds sound pretty formidable.

a reply to: TOMFROMOZ

They're proving to be far better than people expected.

originally posted by: TinfoilTP
So compared to what lets say China has, does this 7th gen stuff leave them in the stone age? The skies over N Korea may become their playground soon, and the timing seems right because nobody has developed defenses against this stuff yet I assume?

You can forget the Doom porn. China wont be comeing to dear fattys rescue.

a reply to: crazyewok

Underestimate your enemy and you will be surprised.

Even if China supported a coalition against North Korea it doesn't mean such a conflict would be a walk in the park.

Anyways to be more on topic, these birds will be a huge game changer in such a conflict. Korea as a whole is highly unforgiving territory, a capable aerial strike force would be a necessity. The F-35 would be significant in striking hard to reach and we'll defended locations.

I'm no expert in military conflict, merely a person who finds interest in such things... But I don't think I'm speaking out of hand in saying a ground conflict with North Korea will be anything but easy. Even if half their forces don't want to fight and they are all ill-equipped.

Never underestimate a desperate foe.

All depends on how organised it is in reacting to an attack..Communications are the most vital asset in warfare.

a reply to: Blackfinger

Well I've heard the F-35 being described as a flying super-computer, if one plane detects a missile they share the information with other birds in the air.

Communication seems to be one of the best assets it has.

a reply to: grey580

Northern Edge 17 kicked off yesterday. It involves F-35Bs from Yuma, and F-22s from Alaska.