Sections

Pentagon squashes the F-35 vs F-15X debate, says F-35 orders will not be affected

A U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter jet based at RAF Lakenheath speeds through the Dinas Pass, known in the aviation world as the Mach Loop on February 16, 2018 in Dolgellau, Wales. United Kingdom. The Royal Air Force and aircraft of the United States use the valleys of Snowdonia to practice low flying techniques and pilot training. The mountain peak vantage points attract aviation enthusiasts from all over the world who hope for a glimpse of their favorite military aircraft spending days waiting for the un-published and un-scheduled flybys. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

by ·

As soon as word hit the media about the Pentagon applying pressure to the U.S. Air Force to look into procuring new F-15X aircraft, defense officials and even defense industry journalists have lamented the idea of purchasing new fourth-generation airframes in the era of stealth fighters like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Critics argued there’s no place for dated platforms like the F-15 in modern warfare, arguing what we really need is more F-35s.

At first glance, that line of thinking seems logical enough. The F-35 and F-15 are technically both fighter jets and the F-35 objectively offers a wider variety of combat capabilities than the older design offered by even a brand new F-15X. The problem is, passable as that line of thinking seems at the surface, it starts to fall as soon as you dive into the nuts and bolts of the idea.

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING.

Your subscription is important and supports our editorial integrity. Advertisers are sometimes afraid of being associated with controversial news topics, and your subscription is vital to ensuring we can continue to publish the courageous news we are known and respected for.

Get Insider Access and Expert Analysis Today

SUBSCRIBE NOW

or Log In

BECAUSE, FACTS DON’T TAKE SIDES

Your Subscription Supports Honest News Efforts

TRY 4 WEEKS FOR $1.99

Comments

Join our community. To comment on this article please join/login.
Here’s a sample of the comments on this post.

  • Max H

    I don’t mind not sacrificing the budget of F-35s, but there must now be an effort to appropriate additional funds to F-15Xs…there is no reason not to. We’re gonna need them, even if all we do as keep them as a second-tier ” just in case we get into a major shootout and most of the F-35s are blown out of the sky at least we have something that’ll give the foe a serious run for their money and they’re easy to train on” predicament. The Navy has already figured this out with their F-18s, but the Navy is gonna need their own aircraft dearly.

  • Leon H

    You don’t always need a Ferrari… Sometimes you need a Toyota Camry…

  • Mason

    Alex, Tyler over at The War Zone just dropped a real stink bomb on the F-35. All the stuff you and I have known about for some time, but the summary is damning after all the recent good news. Waiting for your take on it.