Wrong thread mate. This is the “USAF NOT F-35 Thread”

To end the OT digression

My bad for helping to lead the topic off point.

The point is that

Everything from increased range, increased number of targets tracked, vastly increased scan rates, sidelobe reduction, inherent LPI qualities, inherent jamming, increased A2A/SAR/ISAR resolution, simultaneous functionality (scan vs track, A2A, A2G, data link, SAR, etc), increased reliability, etc…

You’re right, those are just “modest” gains.

Look closer..

The slope actually starts in the early 2000’s with much more than 1600 where you see F-15,16, and 117 numbers coming down as F-35 starts up.

Cutting the annual buy is more harmful to the program than just cutting the same number off the end of the program.

I have NEVER said that there is not an issue.

What I and the accident report have said is that the issue and it’s workaround was known but not properly taught & followed.

3. SUBSTANTIALLY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
a. Procedural Guidance/Publications
Neither publications nor guidance and training were adequate for the circumstances surrounding
this incident. IPP and engine start issues with a tailwind were known prior to the incident.
However, the publications were written and communicated in such a way that the F-35A pilot
community had only vague awareness of the issue. This vague awareness led to inadequate training
for engine starts with a tailwind. Training also resulted in complacency and an over-reliance on
aircraft automation. Thus, the MP was not trained adequately and was not as ready for the abnormal
engine start and resulting fire as he could have been. Preponderance of evidence shows if there
had been an expectation of engine startup problems with a tailwind, the MP may have relied less
on aircraft automation, and may have identified an abnormal engine start earlier.

http://www.airforcemag.com/AircraftAccidentReports/Documents/2017/09232016_F35_MOUNTAINHOME.pdf

When was the last time you heard that?

Earlier this year IIRC.

I’ll try and find the link to the quote.

but the low segment of the hi-lo mix is still being well served with mechanical arrays

Multiple services are upgrading their 4th gen assets to AESA like the US (F-15C/D/E, F-16, B-1B, etc), Taiwan, South Korea, Rafale, Eurofighter, etc. It’s a budget thing more than a capability thing.