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Originally Posted by Zachstar
The fanbois are out in force on this one.
F-35 to replace F-16.. F-16 not best in turn and burn dogfighting = F-35 NOT to be used to hold the air.
That is the F-22s job PERIOD.. The F-22 is much more expensive and advanced for beating the next gen threats the F-35 is what you send in to kill the next gen ground forces when they are packing more than 2 dollar SAMs.
But it does solidify the point that the F-35 needs to be the last manned fighter in the US fleet. It is only a matter of time before the enemies start to use mass drone tactics to defeat even F-22s.
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What's a fanbois? I don't understand. I'm not so sure that the F-16 can be discredited as one of the best in BFM combat. I believe it to be one of the best for sure. In fact, it is very good when used in that role. It does have an excellent turn performance, excellent sustained turn rate, and ability to hold high g turns with small turn circle radius. F-35 will probably perform very similarly from everything I've seen. Sukhois are also extremely maneuverable and excellent in WVR combat. But those super high Alpha maneuvers are energy bleeders. They totally suck the life out of the jet performing those maneuvers. And these Sukhois will never accelerate from low energy to high speed like an F-16. Bottom line, both of those jets have strengths and weaknesses, as do all aircraft. But I have yet to see Russia produce anything like the U.S. and allies are producing in the 5th generation cycle. Russia probably still uses the Flanker base because it has worked for them and is a very excellent aircraft. But I don't expect it to be able to overcome some of the new things coming their way.