F-35 “is not capable of unsupported combat against any serious threat”

Bill Sweetman went thru the latest F-35 report from the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) and summarizes the key findings.

F-35 Lightning II variants in flight near Eglin AFB 2014
By U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Katerina Slivinske [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Katerina Slivinske [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Forceful Tiger 2016

Forceful Tiger is a large force exercise in which the U.S. Air Force’s 18th Wing has to defend Okinawa.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, flies in support of Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The 18th AGRS, which opened Aug. 24, 2007, provides challenging, yet realistic threat replication training in order to prepare Air Force, joint and allied aircrews for potential aerial combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, flies in support of Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The 18th AGRS, which opened Aug. 24, 2007, provides challenging, yet realistic threat replication training in order to prepare Air Force, joint and allied aircrews for potential aerial combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)

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