More on F-35A altitude

More on the previous post of the F-35A and altitude.

Take the time to read all the F-35A USAF and Air National Guard bed-down documents here.

The USAF perceives that the F-35A will not spend much time below 23,000ft.

(click image to make larger)

Everything in these documents is sold as a feature. When you consider the above chart, it shows what we already know. With no working helmet cueing, air-to-ground gunnery will be impossible. And, the F-35 will carry a significantly smaller amount of gun ammo than the aircraft it replaces. So less strafing even if that ever happens.

Also, the F-35 is more vulnerable to ground fire. So, surprise, the F-35A won't spend much time at lower altitudes because it is both unsafe and unable for those tasks. Interesting as most of our wars are against dirt insurgents in permissive or weak surface-to-air and air-to-air threat scenarios.

The documents state that the F-35A may see altitudes up to 60,000ft. Interesting with its performance limits. We have a much more survivable and capable aircraft at that altitude band like the F-22.



So in effect, what the USAF and ground troops are getting, is a much less capable replacement aircraft.

As for precision guided munitions delivery, we can do that with any other platform besides the F-35A.

With all the negatives, the USAF has still not made a valid case for the F-35A.

Understandable since the USAF has become so de-skilled in the area of air power thinking.
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