@SpudmanWP: I would love to see the basis for that claim (heavy red victory). The longest recorded BVR kill ive come across is around 55 km. That is within the reach of passive systems of today.

Just because something is “fifth gen” doesnt mean it’s better at everything..

Since the APA comparison was A2A, that’s what I went with.

As far as a basis: If the APA says that the Su-27/30/35 will clean the skies of F-35s, what hope would they give a 4th gen asset have when the F-35 has better datalinks, better radar, and a much better RCS? Remember that the F-35 can use the Meteor too, so no benefit to the 4th gen asset there.

On the issue of missiles, the -120D has a better datalink, INS, & likely better ECCM while the Meteor likely has better range.

How about sitting next to the approach glide path at LAX?

If you only show a very generic (colored wedge) RCS diagram of the F-35 and nothing of the F-22 and then say that this proves that you need the F-22, that is an invalid comparison (apples to invisible orange), ergo intellectual dishonesty.

More likely DECM (Directed Energy Counter Measures)

DRCM looks and sounds too close to DIRCM

btw, Several sources have hinted that the APG-81 can put out enough energy and focus it well enough to do this.

Egypt is in the hands of the MB (Muslim Brotherhood) and they are calling for the “liberation” of Jerusalem.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/muslim-brotherhood-supreme-leader-gives-wild-rant-against-the-jews-and-israel/

Iran is shipping arms freely through Iraq to Syria (and by default Hezbollah)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/us-syria-crisis-iran-iraq-idUSBRE88I17B20120919

Hamas/Hezbollah are getting weapons from Syria

Target ID is a paramount feature in the F-22 and more so in the F-35.

From the recent Australian F-35 testimony:

Air Vice Marshal Osley: And so the strength of the joint strike fighter—and I use this as an example—is that it has the ability to have {F-35 has} up to 650 parameters by which it will identify a potential threat out there. Other aircraft, such as the F22 have about a third of that and fourth-generation aircraft have perhaps half a dozen. So if you are in an F18 or in some of the other Soviet aircraft you only have a very limited understanding of what the threat is and being able to identify it at a distance. If we are able to do as we plan with the F35, and that is to have good access to the software and to be able to program it appropriately with mission data, it will have the ability to identify hostile aircraft at quite a considerable distance. Then decisions will be made within the formation, it will play to its strengths and it will defeat it, but not by going within visual range.

So that is:

F-35 ~650
F-22 ~215
4th Gen ~6

Not so sure about advanced 4th gen like GripenNG, EF, Rafele, Su-35, etc

Here’s another crazy thought.

Design a new pylon that has room for two MALDs head -to-toe. At each point, mount a BRU-69. That gives a total of 4 MALDs that eject straight down (or close enough to that for Govt work). Since the total is well under 2500 lbs, the F-35 can easily carry 4 of these for a total of 18 MALDs.

Here’s the icing on the cake: swap some of the MALDs for JSOW(ER) (2 internal & 4 on the inner pylons) for 6 JSOWs and 12 MALDs. At a 2:1 decoy/jammer to JSOW ratio, most of them should get through.