Well let’s try to analyse a bit your list. We were talking about the F35 that for me is not only a stealth fighter. It is a fighter that sacrifice a lots of capabilities to be stealth. So from your list, which one are developing an aircraft that has as many constraint that th F 35? I don’t see a lot. The T50 is not sacrificing the basics for stealth. Then for the one that purchase the plane. How much from your list have the choice ? Not a lot. They purchased the F 35 not because it is good, not because it is late and so obsolet, not because it is expensive, but only because it is American that is the case for Canada, Turkey, Netherlands, Australia, Israel, South Korea, Japan, UK.

So 100 degrees AOA is compromised?
10k higher ceiling a F-16 is compromised?
50+ knots cruising speed is compromised?
1200nm range on only internal?

mig 31-bm,

Yes I have provided solid evidence to support this idea,

Since an E-scan radar can track an F35 at 60 Km as stated by EADS a modern state of the art ground based radar will be able to detect the F35 HUNDREDS of kilometers away.

Stealth was a silver bullet in the 90’s but this period is gone. Evolution in radar technology and other anti stealth techniques suddenly makes that metal golf or baseball ball visible at long ranges. Detection or tracking, a LO aircraft will be detected and engaged at long ranges nowadays and in the coming years.

Stealthy UCAVs can claim to achieve much higher all around stealth (Neuron, Taranis, X47 etc…) and gain some time before radar technology continues to evolve. This is the reason for the French air Force to combine rafales with stealth UCAV in the future around 2025-2030.

In the 2020’s F35 survivability against modern AESA GaN ground based radar will have nothing exceptional and won’t survive to this kind of threat. Back to basics and back to low level !

Stealth is still interesting but this is not a silver bullet anymore, especially for manned aircrafts like the F35. It is just one part of the survivability equation. nothing less nothing more.

Better to have it but it won’t make you survive alone today and in the coming years.

1. UhF VHF radar can give a general direction but isn’t accurate enough for a fireing solution.

2. Since the radar is over the Horizon it would still need to hand off to a x-band or a fighter radar. This kill chain is easily broken.

The saddest part about this thread is you can buy a 5th generation fighter for under the price of a Rafael. You can stay at med to high alt, and do the mission 10 times more efficiently. Your still trying to sell us axes and arrows in an era of chainsaws and rifles.

How will they build a 6th gen plane when a 5th gen isnt on the drawing board? Will they just skip a generation? Look at the teething issues with the T-50 and F-35.