![](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/images/w_2000,h_852/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1692170330/Australian%20Aviation/pg85-0_jrbxep/pg85-0_jrbxep.png?_i=AA)
THIS BABY SEAL FIGHTS BACK Lockheed Martin claims US Air Force analyses show the F-35 (pictured here landing at Edwards AFB) “is at least 400 percent more effective in air-to-air combat capability than the best fighters currently available in the international market”. (JSF PO)
Clubbing baby seals in a forest of hype
It was interesting to see Lockheed Martin and JSF program office (JPO) officials go on the front foot recently following new attacks from the F-35’s critics.
The latest series of criticisms started to get air in early September after a former USAF architect of the lightweight fighter concept which spawned the F-16 and YF-17 claimed in a report in Jane’s Defence Weekly that the JSF is a “dog” which will be no better than the current generation of western aircraft, and will be comprehensively outclassed in dogfights by advanced variants of the Su- 27/30/35 Flanker family.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
Subscribe to Australian Aviation for unlimited access to exclusive content and past magazines.A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin