F-35A Combat Radius May Not Meet Minimum Requirement

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Skybird

The F-35 is the latest weapon in the war against obesity!

The F-14A Tomcat listed an operation range of 1167 km, the F-14D Super Tomcat 920 km.

The F/A-18 E/F lists an operation range of 720 km to 1065 km (interceptor role).

And the F-35 just around 600 km?

As long as carriers and their escorts as well as tankers are not stealthed, I think for naval warfare I do not like this shortening of legs.

The F/A-18 and F-14 carry drop tanks to increase their range, the F-35's 600 km range is internal fuel only. The external tank capacity of the F-35 can increase its range to ~150% of internal only fuel depending on class (The B is just over 150% while the A and C are under).