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"The IAF’s plan is to get more than
100 F-35s the minute they
are available" writes David A. Fulghum in his column on
Aviation
Week's Defense Technology International Ares Blog. However,
according to Tom Burbage, quoted by Fulghum in his article,
Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager for
the F-35. However, he says the overseas release of the first
export aircraft will be no sooner than 2014. (More...)
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| Fulghum
highlights some reservations made by an 'influential retired
IAF Force general', regarding the stealth fighter's future capabilities:
"Israel needs the F-35 ASAP, but it doesn’t think
the aircraft is perfect by any means". Among the problems
raised by the general were limitations inherent with a single
pilot seat configuration, integration of indigenous weapons,
such as the Python V air/air missiles and SPICE
autonomous guided weapons and the limited weapon carrying
capacity, dictated by the stealth considerations. Lockheed Martin
argues that Lightning II is designed as a multi-role Stealth
aircraft, which can be used in both day and night used as a
critical force multiplier for the initial phase of a conflict.
Its capability to penetrate heavy enemy air defenses virtually
undetected and carry up to 5,000 pounds of weapons plus self
defense missiles while maintaining full stealth capability provides
a critical advantage enabling an air force to win 'Day One'
engagements - gain aerial dominance even when facing sophisticated,
dense ground based and airborne air defenses. However, after
the first few days, when such air dominance is achieved the
F-35 carry significantly more loads on external weapons pylons,
configured similar to advanced F-16s.
According to Fulghum the IAF considers options for its future
order of battle, including a tradeoff where the air force will
reduce its F-35 fleet while upgrading existing F-15Is and F-16C/D
and F-16Is
with advanced weapons, avionics including advanced AESA radars
and network centric capabilities, where each system contribute
to 'team effort' as a force multiplier, shared throughout the
combined forces over the network. Under the Israel defense Forces
five year strategic force modernization program, the IAF will
improve and expand its capabilities and reach, particularly
addressing long range intelligence collection and strike missions.
An analysis of the capabilities provided by "Fifth Generation
fighters" compared with the latest fighters from East and
West, is currently in preparation and will soon be published
by Defense Update.
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article on
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