There’s an interesting article over at The Daily Beast on why the stealth features of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter may already be obsolete.
Invincibility lies in the defense. It’s quite difficult to come up with an attack measure that can’t be countered especially when you’re an open society.
I don’t think “obsolete” is the right term – the F-35’s problems aren’t about stealth.
The popular media equates “stealth” with invisibility, but the reality is a lot more complicated. The purpose of stealth isn’t to make aircraft invisible – it’s to prevent or delay engagement by enemy weapons systems.
Ah well. They’ll be out in the field soon enough, and with luck they’ll never see actual combat, and after about ten years I expect most of the F-35s to wind up in museums, or in long rows out at Davis-Monthan AFB. Probably the last manned fighter aircraft the US ever deploys.
Ave atque vale.