So it was LM that reported F-35B Block2 software was going to be 13 months late. Good to hear that they volumteered the information.

No body has reported F-35B software will be 13 months late. The report uses the term could be not will be. Reports on software issues for radar causing delays in weapons testing were reported months ago and the problems seem to have been overcome given recent weapon testing. The report is through but it also uses data that is outdated by the time it is released in order to achieve the thourghness it has.

If stealth becomes irrelevant then so does basically every combat aircraft.

The lazer weapons are just around the corner and if those can see you then your dead.

It just shows the mission creep that happened with the 4.5 fighters and F35.

Everyone wants F15 performance at F16 costs.

The logic for canceling the B-70 was sound in regards to the B-70. But the result was the abandonment of very highspeed as a defining concept for new aircraft. While B-70 was in fact vulnerable to SAM the potential for future planes traveling faster then Mach 3 in the atmosphere were allot less vulnerable because of limited speed that a SAM can travel in atmosphere while still being able be able to target a aircraft. Mach 5 is about as fast as you can go before before you start to get a re-entry effect that shuts down communication and blinds sensors. A faster version of B-70 traveling at mach 5 and able to drop down lower into atmosphere if it was targeted by SAM would have been able create a situation where missiles were ether not able to target it are where it had a speed advantage over them and could simply outrun them if the missiles slowed enough to be able to target.

The arguement that B-70 was vulnerable to SAM was correct the inference made that the same applied to all potential future highspeed aircraft as well was false

I have a strong suspicion countries getting F35 with full 2019 software and capability wont do anything to upgrade there F35’s except software patches for about twenty years.

Large capability delays between purchase of a plane and when its capable of doing what intended for it to do is simply a way of hiding cost overruns.

I expect the completeness of F35 in 2019 is going to upset some who were counting on a stream of revenue from upgrade requirements.

Given that it is a 737 airframe, which really isn’t that big in the grand scheme of things, I wouldn’t be surprised if they could base it in Afghanistan. I know the long loiter/CAS/overwatch role is being taken over by drones, but I suspect there is still utility in having a manned aircraft up there with all of the sensors and weapons under its direct control.

It already carries the SLAM-ER (155NM, 250km), and it is a virtual certainty that it could be equipped with the JASSM (230NM, 370km) and the JASSM-ER (575NM, 925km) given that the JASSM-ER is the basis for the US’s next anti-ship cruise missile. (which will certainly be integrated on the P-8)

There is a advantage to basing in country in that it maximizes on station time but there is also a advantage to basing outside of country that being a lower logistics footprint. Cost of shipping fuel into Afghanistan are reported to be astronomical so odds are costs would be lower basing outside of country even it means you are looking at a 500 mile commute. Then there is simply issue of potentially limited resources in certain given remote areas where the ability to base outside of area where resources like fuel are not in short supply. That allows P8 to adds its abilities to a operation while not taking limited in theater fuel away from others users.

For stand off role I would look at Libya but give UK and France each 25 P8 equipped Stormshadow, LGB, and JDAM then examine how that would have altered those countries operations.

You also have potential for use of larger standoff missiles on P8. Up sizing from 2000-3000LB missiles to 4000-5000LB range that offers the potential for more range/performance.

It gets an advanced fighter modified for its specific desires.

The anti-thesis of what the British are getting in the F-35

I think the F35B is by any definition a advanced fighter modified to the UK’s specific needs. It also has a large amount of UK based manufacturing content as well. Anything more specific then already given would just end up costing UK taxpayers a arm and a leg in increased costs.

How is F-35’s maneuverability compared to J-20?

Unknown some think J-20 is a Chinese version of F-111 others thing it is as good as Raptor.

Most likely F35 is equal are better then J-20 in maneuver while J-20 has a higher top speed if it can manage to acquire engines of enough power.