F-35I shot down an Iranian YAK-130
View: https://x.com/IDF/status/2029115112347304191
Yes it has a gun, but like all F-35A/I its the GAU-22A 25mm, not the M61 20mm.Is the F-35I fitted with an internal M61 like the F-35A?
There was a plan to integrate the NGJ onto the F-35 but that plan was dropped in 2012, https://www.flightglobal.com/in-foc...egration-deferred-indefinitely/105240.articleAnyone have ever seem anything about the EF-35 concept?
I can remember there was a dedicated EW variant of F-35 concept but now the only evidence I can found is this image, and it is from an article that was translated into chinese, published in 2009. Try searching "EF-35" on all searching engine returns with nothing. Are there anyone have more information?
The XQ-58A’s advanced EA payload autonomously detected, identified, and geolocated multiple tactically relevant targets of interest, transmitted emitter target track coordinates to collaborative assets, and successfully presented non-kinetic electronic attack effects against multiple emitters.
Calling the Yak-130 a fighter is a bit of a stretchF-35I shot down an Iranian YAK-130
View: https://x.com/IDF/status/2029115112347304191
Calling the Yak-130 a fighter is a bit of a stretch
The Yak-130 can carry R-73/74 with the addition of external hardpoints but that is about it really.
I've seen this floating around for a few days but haven't seen it confirmed. I'm guessing it hasn't happened else I would think the pentagon would have confirmed it.View: https://x.com/Osint613/status/2027839936401912318
Any truth here yall? If so, guess we just made some aces.
Yes it has a gun, but like all F-35A/I its the GAU-22A 25mm, not the M61 20mm.
An Israeli F-35I has reportedly scored the platform’s first air-to-air victory against a crewed aircraft, downing an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran. While F-35s from multiple nations have shot down uncrewed drones in combat before, this marks the first air-to-air victory against a piloted aircraft for the most technologically advanced fighter in service today.
Inline with 95% of news articles regarding military aviation it is good to see the article includes an image of a Super Hornet and not an F-35...30 F-35s, instead of 36, for Switzerland, due to additional costs.
30 F-35s, instead of 36, for Switzerland, due to additional costs.
The Swiss ordered 5 IRIS-T SLM systems last year to cover their medium range requirement. If they want long range, then they pretty much have to go for SAMP/T, if they want to bolster their medium range capability, then IRIS-T SLM probably has it locked in,also Switzerland been told the Patriot they ordered will be delivered 4-5 years late (and that was in Feb before the Middle East conflict) so they are shopping for a complementary buy of a European air defence system.
Nothing. They are still getting F-35s, just less.So what would Switzerland buy instead of buying the original order of 36 F-35s?
Switzerland tends to be a special case...but that is getting off topic.That is weird GTX, Switzerland getting less F-35s when the rest of Europe is putting more money into defence spending.
Source ?They have committed verbally to order more later.
Here,Source ?
Switzerland did signal that follow-on orders for the F-35 may be considered later, once funding and political support allow. It has already pledged to raise defence spending to 1% of GDP by 2032, still well below NATO’s 2% benchmark but a notable shift for a traditionally cautious nation.
From the article they have stated a need for a larger fleet."Followon orders may be considered later". They have only committed to buying as many aircraft as possible within the original funding envelope.
Yes the current funding envelope constraints them but with an intent to increase the defence budget and a requirement for a larger fleet topping up on F-35 is likely. They could of course chose a different aircraft but that would bring significant more expense that the cost conscious Swiss are unlikely to pay for.Defence Minister Martin Pfister acknowledged that Switzerland “would require a larger fleet” to meet its stated air-defence requirements of 55 to 70 modern fighters, but said the government was constrained by the outcome of the referendum.
From the article...How much funding have the Swiss put aside for the F-35 order?
The Swiss government said on Friday it could no longer guarantee the purchase of 36 aircraft within the 6 billion-franc (about $6.6 billion) spending cap approved by voters in 2020.
It is a valid point but I think that ship has sailed. IMO the future of anti-drone isn't fighter based rockets but the fleet of low cost anti-drone interceptors Ukraine is deploying today. By the time F-35 received APKWS there may be enough anti-drone interceptors available to make the integration time and cost a waste.This is a very valid point that Gareth makes....its ok for the US as it has multiple manned platforms that can carry APKWS...
But for nations that have F-35 as their sole combat jet (i.e. a good chunk of Europe now, and increasing all the time) there is going to be some serious pressure on Lockheed Martin to get external rocket pods added and operational sharpish...Typhoon and Rafale are already on that path, and I suspect we'll see Gripen in due course....
Can LM react though? Deep as they are in TR-3 and Block IV hell?
I actually think most users would be happy if APKWS/external rocket pods were bumped up to No.1 on the integration list ahead of anything else...
View: https://x.com/GarethJennings3/status/2031810870183932191
It is a valid point but I think that ship has sailed. IMO the future of anti-drone isn't fighter based rockets but the fleet of low cost anti-drone interceptors Ukraine is deploying today. By the time F-35 received APKWS there may be enough anti-drone interceptors available to make the integration time and cost a waste.