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]The reason for replacing F-15 and F-16s are their old airframes and engines which are costly to keep up as the production lines draw down, while they have served more than 30 years and will continue to do so as F-35 production is planned to run beyond 2035.
so 1 of the reason is COST of prodcution line and service
Remember the F-15 is an air superiority aircraft while F-16 is the multi role one. F-35 is not air superiority but replacement for f-16s. F/A 22 is the real air superiority fighter, but with the costs and delays, it alone cannot fill the gap left behind after the decommissioning of F-15s. Infact the total number of planes on order f-35 and f22 combined is less than what they have already in service with f-16 and f-15s. Meaning a lot of f-15s WOULD be flying alongside.
Yup remembering... F-35 is not superior but still replacing F-16s which is superior
I did not claim F-15 to be superior to F-35. I said F-15 is still an awesome fighter and in air-air combat performance, ( assuming you take the stealth out of f-35) it will knock f-35 out easily.
F-15+ stealth = better than F-35 easily..
F-35 is stealth and most of the technology that makes it stealthy descends from the research of F22 raptor it self.
agreed.
Yes F-35 is superior in avionics and yes it has stealth all over it, but it does not mean that it is better or more agile as well.
okay....
F-15 top speed is Mach 2.5+
F-35 top speed is Mach 1.67
1. X-15, Mach 6.72, 354,200 feet
2. SR-71 Blackbird, (YF-12) Mach 3.2+ 85,000+ feet
3. MiG-25R Foxbat-B, Mach 3.2 123,524 feet
3. X-2, Mach 3.2 126,200 feet
4. XB-70 Valkyrie, Mach 3.1 77,350 feet
5. MiG-31 Foxhound, Mach 2.83 67,600 feet
6. MiG-25 Foxbat, (Ye-155) Mach 2.8 118,900 feet
are these better than F-15 just because its speedier.. or are american stupid to make aircrafts less speedier than F-15?/
Is it a speed race?/
.....
not to mention the huge cost difference of buying f-35 vs F16/F15 and maintaining them (the stealth paint, structure etc).
no need as u have already mentioned
The reason for replacing F-15 and F-16s are their old airframes and engines which are costly to keep up as the production lines draw down.