The Fighter Jet with the Most Impressive Weapons Capacity

[@robertkerr4199]

You sum it up perfectly. The F15 is simply the better option when stealth isn't a priority.

[@josephpacchetti5997]

Agree 100% Robert. 👊 😎

[@paktahn]

i think with ai the idea of stealth as we know it wont exist much longer as ai should be able to lock and track an airborne target visually through irst and guide a missile that way making stealth useless along with chaff/flares ecm pods and rwr so i think upgrading a proven aircraft and spending money on integration of ai is the way to go i think the adoption of the f35 was a giant mistake due to all its flaws limited internal bay size and limited range

[@DavidGentry-WebDeveloper]

What about the F-16XL? If they were looking for a missile truck strike aircraft, the F-16XL beats the F-15EX in pretty much every category. Don't get me wrong, the F-15 is a great fighter/interceptor airframe but if maneuverability isn't a factor, there are better options when it comes to range and payload. Even the fact that the F-16XL has a single large delta wing reduces its radar cross-section compared to the F-15EX and that is a free bonus that the Air Force decided to forego for some reason.

[@paktahn]

@@DavidGentry-WebDeveloper delta wings have poor energy retention and the f16xl only had a max payload of 15000 lbs the f15 ex has a max payload of almost double that with an even greater range far cheaper to give a small upgrade to the 15 than to rebuild half of the f16 not to mention pilots would need retrained as the xl had completely different flight characteristics over the standard f16

[@joshuapowell2675]

I wouldn't even say "when stealth isn't a priority." I would say more along the lines of when stealth operation isn't possible. Because as long as stealth represents some sort of tangible benefit, it's definitely a priority for at some aircraft to utilize it. Take for example the F-35 operating in "beast mode" (full pylon usage). You would still likely want escorts in stealth configuration to shadow the non-stealth formation. Ironically you could see F-15s loaded for a strike mission with F-35s escorting in stealth and lending their sensors for targeting

[@Ghostwulf.J.M.]

I like the F-15 EX, but why does the video pic show a Dassault Rafale instead of a Boeing F-15?

[@kfeltenberger]

Typical sloppy work from Dark Skies

[@rolletroll2338]

Rafale is an insane weapon truck by itself, I thought the video would talk about it. But no...'

[@taco44051]

I live near F-15 base in NC. I go watch them take off and land often. E- models, war hammers for our country. Still gives me chills and goosebumps when they shake the fields, trees, my truck and guts when they take off in afterburner. Old Navy vet...

[@spencerstevens2175]

They used to buzz my summer camp. Pretty much every day we would get them coming over head at about a few hundred feet. Im sure we were target practice for mock runs.

[@patrickd2013]

Thanks for the succinct little narration, Bob! Particular fan of "war hammers" and "chills and goose bumps" Old Marine Corps vet...

[@hooks4638]

Yeah, I'm in NC too, I like to get my bbq and eat in the parking lot so I can watch them landing.

[@paulroberts9225]

Was the thumbnail a picture of a typhoon?

[@argoswaits2084]

Lol I was looking for this comment

[@duartevilelas9688]

I think it's a Rafale, actually 🤔

[@AliCousins-uu8xm]

It is a pity they could not find a picture of a F15.....pathetic really.

[@PrintScreen.]

it's a Rafale

[@prollins6443]

Don't forget, when he was talking about the airframe, he had the air duct of a F-16 showing

[@samyfay7786]

Thumbnail and welcome picture shows the French Rafale. But episode talk about the F15

[@PoopstainMcClain]

We need easy to maintain, cost effective aircraft to deploy after air dominance is established and in conflicts against less advanced adversaries. That’s what some people are missing here. The eagle 2 working with the F-35/F-22 make all 3 platforms much more capable. There are also things the F-15 can do that the other 2 can not. This is chess, not checkers!

[@Milo-id9qd]

F-15EX probably costs as much to maintain as the F-35, the Strike Eagle was clocking in @ 27.5k / flight hour with the F-35A being 30 or 35k.

[@gordonlawrence1448]

@@Milo-id9qd not even close. For a start you dont need the RAM coatings re-applied every time it rains and after every 10 flight hours otherwise. The engines in an F-15 are way easier to get at for maintenance, and cost less to maintain.

[@7gmeister]

Problem is that it’s not cost effective. It costs more than the F-35 and you’re still going to have to use F-35s to support the F-15 because 4th Gen Aircraft require more airborne platforms to operate than 5th Gen which no one conveniently likes to talk about when they talk about the high cost of maintenance on the F-35. You now also have to have spare parts for a plane that is in a limited run so those parts are going to be overly expensive as well

[@Milo-id9qd]

@@gordonlawrence1448 That figure comes from the US government itself.

[@michaelgautreaux3168]

The -22/-35 mix was supposed to continue the -15/-16 duo for exactly U're point.

[@MichaelRacer]

The F-15 is one of my all time favorite fighter jets, and the fact that it has over 100 air-to-air kills is why I call it the John Wick of all fighter jets.

[@Kurt_Philanderer]

Yes... John Wick... Very much yes... good comment

[@TOMAS-lh4er]

because of the two-seat layout ,I think of it as the Futuristic version of the F-4 Phantom. !1

[@TheOriginalFaxon]

It's the only fighter jet to ever score an air to air kill using a 2000lb laser guided paveway II bomb as well (or any air to ground guided bomb). The story is totally nuts, the fighter in question was responding to a call for air support from a special forces team in Iraq during the Gulf War. They had multiple IRG units converging on them with Mi-24s for transport and fire support, and one of them was just taking off to move out towards the unit, when the F15 got into range, evaluated the situation, and because he was going Mach 1.4, opted to use the bomb as it had more range than an AIM-9 at that velocity due to its high mass and guidance kit. The bomb hit the Hind after it had taken off and was airborne, so every Iraqi unit in the area saw as the 2000lb bomb vaporized it instantly in a massive fireball from the dispersal of the jet fuel, as the bomb exploded within the airframe itself. The rest of the Iraqi units opted to retreat at that point, and the F-15s wingman was entering the area as well. I forget how things went after that for the Iraqis, pretty sure they lost a few more Mi-24s at that point, but can you imagine the morale sinking feeling of watching your elite unit just get blown out of the sky by a bomb intended to penetrate deep bunkers and obliterate them? That Hind never stood a chance

[@junkookbts1273]

@Phillip Banes "almost the same number of kills" ? F-15s 👉 104 F-16s 👉 78

[@junkookbts1273]

@Phillip Banes that's not "almost" lol Almost would be if F-16s had 90+ kills....and it doesn't

[@PiratePrincessYuki]

Out of all the fighters and attack planes my dad has ever flown, the F-4 and F-15 are his favorites with the F-16 close behind.

[@paktahn]

imo the f4 phantom 2 is one of the coolest looking american jets ever developed only surpassed by the f14 its still fast by today's standards just not all that maneuverable but despite that it still filled the role of fighter bomber even though it was really designed as a high speed interceptor

[@dianapennepacker6854]

​@@paktahn Yeah and people think it is ugly as hell! I love the shape especially with that unique tail. Thing is awesome looking IMO. SO sick of the a lot of 4th and fifth gen fighters. Russian aircraft generally look better too.

[@paktahn]

@@dianapennepacker6854 i completely agree on russian aircraft i love the look of the flanker and felon i do like the f22 but the f35 is a flying turd

[@PiratePrincessYuki]

@@paktahn my older brother (also a pilot,retired) flew helicopters for the army. My little brother however is in the Navy and flys F-18 off the Ronald Reagan.

[@paktahn]

@@PiratePrincessYuki my father was in the airforce and did a tour in vietnam i have an uncle that was a b52 mechanic during the early 1980s and his son was a tracked vehicle mechanic in the second iraq war and his son just graduated basic training for the airforce in texas yesterday i got nothing but respect for anyone who served in our armed forces honorably

[@seowkokpoh5104]

It is all about supplement each other capability. While the F35 is stealthy but it does not carry heavy ordnance that gave enough punch. However, the F35 can penetrate enemy defense system and eliminate the threat of air defense while the F15ex will do the rest like the infantry.

[@spencerstevens2175]

F35 targets and sends targeting details to the f15s etc who can fire their massive payloads without ever entering hostile airspace. If the f35 fires weapons it might as well shine a beacon down on the defenses below.

[@kendallevans4079]

Waste of money. That's what the Military/Industrial Complex is all about. Get's votes for the congressmen because they will say THEY got it passed for YOUR jobs

[@1badjesus]

​@@kendallevans4079bingo!

[@1badjesus]

FEMALE PILOT CORRECT👍. $ should be re-directed to F-35 upgrades. Strategy of F-35 clearing defences then sending F-15s to hit target is NONSENSICAL. If F-35 upgraded to larger internal payload (INCLUDING HYPERSONICS) and ALL variants equipped with internal cannon then no reason 35 can't handle DEFENSE AND OFFENSE capabilities. Case-In-Point: fact 2 outta the 3 F-35 variants have no INTERNAL cannon despite pilot request is absurd. Insurance made same mistake with Phantom in Vietnam.. firsth Phantoms had no cannon despite pilot's requesting it and thus they suffered losses or had to return when outta missiles.

[@mikeharvey9184]

Ward Carrol had an F-15E pilot on a few months ago who had some time in one of the first EX's... he made a point that the EX's radar (which will be retrofit into the E's) will be the most powerful radar of any fighter on the planet. He then made a point that he talked to some F-22 pilots who had told him that during Red Flag exercises, they loved being paired with 4th gen aircraft with powerful radars... the technique they used was that the 4th gen's would crank their radars up, creating a ton of radar noise that made it much harder for the "enemy" aircraft to pick out the F-22's against that background noise. The technique he envisioned was sending in the EX's with their super long range radars to pick out targets for the F-22 and F-35, while creating so much noise that the stealth aircraft had a much easier time sneaking up on their targets... all while remaining safely out of range of enemy missiles.

[@keithallver2450]

I wonder if the designers at McDonald/Douglas back in the late 60s who created the Eagle ever dreamed that it would continue to be a formidable front-line fighter well into the 21st century?

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

You could say the same for the U-2 (which outlived its replacement, the tri-sonic+ SR-71), the P-3C Orion, the C-130 Hercules (all Lockheed aircraft) & the Boeing B-52.

[@informationcollectionpost3257]

All summed up in the below comments. It compliments the stealth jets and has the ability to fire some extremely long range fire and forget weapons that are starting to be created. Jamming and countermeasures can somewhat make up for its loss of stealth. It is capable of performing all the desired missions but what can do it does better than any other fighter.

[@foracal5608]

The f-15 is without a doubt the most gangster fighter jets ever made still made to this day

[@Thebonesoftrees]

Roll 90 degrees and then fire the guns.

[@kendallevans4079]

You are the perfect example why they even make videos of these money pits

[@CallsignEskimo-l3o]

Why were there random shots of a F-16 under going maintenance and a RCAF F/A-18?

[@chatbonk1583]

bro why is the thumbnail a Dassault Rafale? How do you mess that up lmao

[@Nightsight971]

Real quick, put the picture of the plane your talking about on the screen shot. That's a Rafale on this one and last week you had a Corsair when you talked about the Hellcat. I love the Corsair, so my hopes were dashed😢. But your videos are awesome!! I wish they would cant the wings on the EX like the Silent Eagle to help with that radar cross section, maybe add thrust vectoring for maneuverability and short take offs. But I do understand the "speed to buy" concept and these planes were ready to go. Keep the videos coming!!

[@promiscuouscrab4040]

F35: That one is super quiet and super smart and very popular. F22: That one is super quiet, very smart, still very secretive/exclusive, but is foaming at the mouth because it has superpowers that it has never gotten to use….don’t mention Chinese spy balloons, it was an anticlimactic experience. F15: That one isn’t very quiet, it is smart, it has gotten to use its superpowers a lot, and has taken up sprinting and powerlifting.

[@ayuchanayuko]

Roger that, there will now be an anime of fighter jet girls.

[@Nightsight971]

Actually, their big ole engines are super loud. I'd compare to F4s that used to fly over my house. 😅

[@leobuana7430]

​​@@Nightsight971 it's play on "quiet kid/wall flower" stereo type not showing up on the "radar"

[@Duron13]

Me being thoroughly confused when the video is about the F15 but the thumbnail shows a Rafale ?

[@VechsDavion]

I think we need a 2nd line jet to fly behind the F-22 and F-35s and deploy munitions in the Pacific Theater. That sounds like the F-15 to me.

[@ekka6560]

That is one beautiful looking beast of an aircraft!

[@nikhilajmera6631]

Why the thumbnail is of Dassault Raphael

[@Axhole5]

I need one of these. So darn bad. Always a pleasure to watch your videos. ✊️

[@michaelmancini5773]

Why do you tout this F-15EX, and show a French Dassault Rafale on the screen cover???

[@boehseryappi]

Why has the video an picture of the french RAFALE jet as thumbnail when the content is about the F15?

[@mejestic124]

but the rafael in the thumbnail🤔

[@randalh3077]

I can see the F-15 E as Mig bait. Very fast and heavily armed Mig bait.

[@jw9737]

Mig bait? 😂 The hunter would become the hunted real quick in that scenario.

[@randalh3077]

@J W I'm guessing the enemy would be "seeing" them long before the F35s.

[@tigertiger1699]

Great vids👍👍🙏🙏

[@dmn4794]

Nothing can survive those modern air defenses.. Not even a small drone - fully pasted. However - those "modern" air defenses are 🙄 VERY FEW. They're also incredibly expensive & difficult to maintain. Costly to operate.. but most importantly - STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED. You understand ?? This project deserves praise. Modernising dated frames is not only efficient - it is also - environmentally responsible. 😌

[@262thunder7]

Modernising existing airframes is also VERY expensive. At times, even more expensive than brand new aircrafts.

[@BasedF-15Pilot]

Heather Penney's comments as stated in this video are idiotic at best and irresponsible. The F-35 does not have mission parity with the F-15C. The F-35 cannot replace the F-15C because it's too small, the radar is size/cooling limited, the fuel is severely size limited, and even with bags the F-35 can't touch the range and loiter TOT that the F-15C has. The F-35 has an anemic weapons load, and it can't project air dominance into an airspace without dragging refueling tankers and logistics assets into contested territory, the F-15C can. Even the Navy is complaining about the ridiculous 700nm operational range of the F-35 saying that the short range puts the whole carrier group in danger (it does). The F-15EX is not only a good idea, it's downright mandatory since we can't build anymore F-22s and our F-15Cs have been bent due to many over-Gs incidents and seeing many more hours and maintenance cycles than they were designed for. The F-35 program killed the F-22 program because Congress awarded both contracts to the same defense company and the F-22 tooling was re-purposed for F-35, which was a huge mistake. In summary the F-35 is a great situational awareness asset, but it's a trash fighter designed for small Euro nations with tiny airspaces or regional forward deployed base defense. There is a reason why the F-15 and Su-27 platforms are so large... because the airspaces in Russia and USA are very large and front line fighters need to see far with big radars, carry many missiles, and carry enough gas to fight, win, and return home. The F-35 simply cannot do that. source: I'm a pilot with over 20 years flying the F-15C and a patch (weapons school grad).

[@DtWolfwood]

Yall really like to have thumbnails of planes you're not talking about don't you?

[@TonyYuEvangelism]

Why do you put the wrong thumbnail photo on your videos?

[@zx1100a1]

Great content

[@bipolarspock6145]

The king had returned

[@thuydoan7496]

America doesn't need a real Superman. We already got the next best thing, Fighter Jets.

[@justsayen2024]

When you want shock and awe this new variant seems like it could pack a punch

[@tylerkinley268]

Government: we want a jet to complement the f35 Boeing: we did it! Gov: let's just give it all to the f35

[@hecklepig]

I don't object to the F15 even though its a 50 year old design I object to the fact its production will be in the hands of Boeing. If Boeing can't build a commercial aircraft without cutting corners and killing people what chance do we have that the military contract will also have cut corners left right and centre. The fact they've already removed the extra fuel tanks makes me question its viability. The only reason to remove those tanks is due to weight constraints that compromise the aircrafts agility. did they screw up the center of gravity on the plane like they did the 737? Not to mention the increase in price for a 50 year old design now makes it as expensive if not more so than the F22 and F35s.

[@jeffwest5783]

Why does your thumbnail show a plane that's not the F15? Looks a Eurofighter, maybe?

[@secretgoldfish931]

It’s a Rafale

[@renelaizer6518]

I was expecting a video about the aircraft in the thumbnail...

[@Hanfkrokette]

whats the song at 7:15 ?

[@brucehemming9749]

Great video thanks for sharing 🍻👍

[@jeremysargent5037]

I saw the F15 over Loch Ness and it was so quiet that I didn't know it was on me until it was leaving. I really wanted a good picture of it but I couldn't even get my camera out in time. I was so surprised how they even got the jet sound down to a minimum.

[@jameslong6800]

Hard to believe the F-15 is still so vital. Even with such thing as stealth aircraft.

[@sirave6017]

I'm glad they mentioned the radar cross section because I was curious...mm's vs dozens of feet, LOL.

[@MapleShrimp]

You deploy the F-15 when you no longer care if the enemy sees you coming, or if your stealthy fighters have already blinded him.

[@sirave6017]

@@MapleShrimp Well no shit, that's not what I was asking. Obviously if something has that large of a radar cross section it's not going to be a first option front line fighter.

[@ravenkk4816]

Why France fighter in thumbnail for a F-15 though????

[@jediisawesome]

why is the picture you click on a rafale if the video is about f-15 ? i don’t get it

[@gutstompenrocker]

The F15-EX carries the largest amount of AIM-120's of any fighter aircraft in the world. If the US purchases the Peregrine missile, that would double.

[@johntaylor-lo8qx]

Always gr8 ❤

[@nukers1234]

A combo with F35 and F15 with long range missiles must be a good combo where F35 holds overwatch and feeds F15 targets for missiles

[@BasedF-15Pilot]

F-15 can really only deploy with F-22, the F-35 hits joker fuel too often and has to divert to aerial tankers constantly. Range is a serious issue with F-35, but F-15C + forward F-22s is already a tactic. The later version missiles can data link missiles fired by F-15 to F-22 if needed. The F-15C's radar usually doesn't require it given the range of the APG-63v2/v3 radars.

[@ItiscalledaMANDATE]

They should explore an F-15EX with pod mounted generators and laser weapons. It's massive weight carrying capabilities makes it an ideal candidate. Also, electronic warfare capabilities maxed out. Laser and electronic defense on a truck chassis along with some missiles, how could you go wrong. Team them up with F-35's and F-18's FTW.

[@mattdoespushups2350]

ALL THIS IS FINE,BUT WHY USE RAFALE IN THUMBNAIL😂😂.

[@slshusker]

Who doesn't love the Family Truckster.

[@hazonku]

Seems the main arguments against it are stealth related but I don't see that as a valid concern in modern combat. This thing would be the mop up crew and come in only after the stealth bombers, regular bombers, Raptors, & Lightnings accompanied by unmanned F-16s. It's not meant to be a tip of the spear fighters, it's meant to take out whatever is left with extreme prejudice & an arsenal that'd make older bombers blush.

[@damongraham1398]

Why can't the do the same for the A-10? What would be the ranges of both the F-15 and A-10 when fully loaded with LRASM? Also can a short range air to air missile hit a carrier killer missile in a head to head engagement?

[@davidhudson5452]

The Eagle will prove it self again best fighter in the world

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

Why do I get the feeling that the movie Stealth was a warning, but the way I thought that was a great movie well, to me Also have you forgotten the movie Eagle eye

[@manivannansermaiya3528]

Your video thumbnail is showing rafale fighter jet..

[@mateuszwalicki497]

So it’s not about the Rafale? Thumbnail pls…

[@waynesimpson2074]

But the static icon for this video appears to be a delta winged aircraft, mirage style?

[@princedheluu2835]

Almost, it's a Rafal ;)

[@hamsterSNAKE]

How many holes will a F35 take before its shot down in a dogfight or by AA Guns.....if it got into that senario that is? And how would that compair to the F15EX.

[@DH-.]

What's up with the grey widow coming back old but advanced capable of being a 6th generation fighter?

[@problemodude]

It's funny you take a part of at fotage from are old and very aging cf-18 hornet from 425 escadron a the end. And it's weird to see that because ill work on that particular aircraft 756 . It's not me on the fotage but i now him.

[@Kili121416]

Great channel, informative and no BS.

[@duartevilelas9688]

A bit BS They mess up the footage a lot (and many times on purpose)

[@aknighttrain]

wait til you hear him try to pronounce 'chassis'.

[@TheGreg6466]

@@duartevilelas9688 yeah, so sad, the original channel, Dark 5, used to be great, mistakes on purpose to increase the comments is such a crappy thing to do to your viewers

[@duartevilelas9688]

@@TheGreg6466 Totally 😒

[@jimstokes2942]

AD-1Skyraider, A-4 Skyhawk and others were the "Dump Trucks" of weapons delivery

[@cz287cj]

F15 Ex should still be much cheaper to operate and can be used in region that doesn't have advanced air defence system.

[@rexmann1984]

We need longer range missiles. Slinging missiles at mach 2 is quite a thing.

[@raosaheb5637]

F15EX definitely has a role to play for decades to come. not every threat is 5th gen ready. the 5th gen aircrafts are expensive to maintain. while, F15s had no loss ever in combat and is cheaper to maintain. when this fighter enters the airspace. others make way for it.

[@piwi2005]

The thumbnail I get for this F-15 video is the one of a Rafale. Is this a KZbin bug ?

[@BroadcastYR]

Now. Why would you put a RAFALE as a thumbnail ???? Misleading AF. Not cool.

[@AhmedAdly11]

05:55 The Artificial Horizon IS NOT blue and yellow!

[@yzzxxvv]

Amazing

[@chrish0001]

Love the video- but so confused at the video icon decision 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@DtWolfwood]

Did they mention what the anticipated carrying capacity of the f-15ex?

[@paktahn]

i dont think so it depends on configuration as it has 2 one being a set of conformal fuel tanks added under the wings along the body extending its range to other being a set of internal weapons bays the same size and shape of the conformal fuel tanks on the previous configuration from what i have read they can be quickly swapped between the two configurations depending on if the mission requires more fuel or more ordinance

[@staudtj1]

This plane is more suitable for night missions when a single man with a personal missile launcher may not be able to see it.

[@numeristatech]

Given the payload is double that of the A-10 and the USAF wants to get rid of that airframe, this looks like the perfect contender, minus the 30 mm cannon.

[@matthewbirch9030]

the thumbnail is miss leading

[@ankhang5476]

But why using Rafale as your thumbnail lol

[@74_Green]

On 18 April 2023, the USAF announced that the California and Louisiana Air National Guards would replace their F-15C/D fleets with the F-15EX.[17]

[@TK199999]

The way the EX is being used, will have it teamed with 5th gen fighters and basically carrier their bomb/missile load. Since with modern systems you don't have to get that close to launch your weapons. But still need to be close to identify targets. I still say Lockheed will or is in talks with customers about reviving the F-16XL program. Since it gives poorer nations who fly the F-16 there own bomb truck that is cheaper and based on an aircraft they are know well and have supply chains for.

[@BasedF-15Pilot]

Single engine combat aircraft are a liability, There is nothing the F-16XL could do better than the F-15E except crash due to engine or accessory system faults.

[@MindRiderFPV]

18 AMRAAM?!? What 😮 🤩 ?

[@into_the_void]

There's a Rafale on the video thumbnail... Wtf

[@TheGreatMarathaArmy]

So, Why there's picture of RAFALE in thumbnail?

[@lolkevandewitte1713]

…and showing a Dassault Rafale on the thumbnail….

[@louv4437]

The F-15 EX is a game changer and we needed it cause the F35 is not a match for the SU-30, SU35 or SU-57, but the EX is. Pennny is mad they call the F35 fat Amy. We need a 6th Gen that has the impact of the invincible F22

[@on_wheels_80]

Why the Rafale in the Thumbnail?

[@TerrariumFirma]

Why does it need two tail fins?

[@genrabbit9995]

The F15 is a beauty.

[@Elon425]

I do wish the raptor would have had more success. Such a bad ass jet. Glad the f15 is still basking in the sun though.

[@MartinBuhr]

great video, but your thumbnail image is of an EF-2000 :/

[@the_beanzer]

I never see stealth aircraft fully taking over the airforce it is good to have some heavy hitters that can carry more missiles than targets it can track.

[@isaiahgarcia5563]

Great video as always but if the video is about the f15 why did you use a French Rafale for the thumbnail?😂

[@ailencamacho9891]

Picture for the video is misleading. Is a Rafale picture and the video us about f15. Bad practice

[@chateytung]

F15ex is suitable to guide USA air space because it don't need to be stealth in own air space with saving a lot of money

[@kindnuguz]

The continued "budget" talks from politicians only hurts our defense capabilities. When you put creativity with-in a box it will never reach it's full potential. This is the main difference between current day environment R&D and past generations. I feel we have hit a plateau with technology and something revolutionary is on the horizon that will change aviation for decades to come.

[@jay1st1st]

Rafale thumbnail ???

[@aquahoodjd]

I can't state this enough as the critic seems to have missed the briefings on the advances and roles that 4th++ gen aircraft can have working in tandum with the F35 and did she miss the childhood common sense lesson we all learn, don't put your eggs in one basket (especially when those eggs have limitations, as not as all mission capable as they have been marketed, but are assuredly a necessity or desired element of any air strike capability. This aircraft fills a huge gap sitting squarely between the 5th gen, costs, saturation needs, a true mutli-role, all weather team would be airborne AWAC (the new systems would be nice but you can augment in a pinch with drones and a combat control room nearby, a nice group of F35s doing thier thing, and some serious numbers of waves of back up F-15 EXs working with and overwhelm any advasary using shear kgs of a variety of munitions. Five F35S paired with 12 fully loaded F15-EXS and you have a force able to knock down about any front door. This gets mutipled by over the horizon sea or air launched crusie missiles, imagine a cargo planes dropping several pallets of curise missiles, while the F35s are breaching the airspace and taking out the first line of air defenses, some sealth bombers going deep to take out secondary systems, followed by waves of F15-EXs, while the first sortie of F35s are back getting full load outs themselves. The initial hit would be deviating to pretty much every country with a few exceptions on the planet.

[@ariq4209]

> Video : F-15EX > Thumbnail : Rafale

[@jacobusstefanuspotgieter1332]

The F15 does have a place. The no replacement for volume. Flood the battle field with volume to overwhelm the enemy.

[@andreasweber7828]

Wrong thumbnail

[@toothlessseer3153]

While the F-15 is one of the greatest fighters every built, it's an anachronism in the world of stealth and loyal wing-men. _We desperately need a stealth, long-range, twin-engined multi-role aircraft (F-35C does not have the range to safely fight China, plus the basic F-35 design was too compromised by the F=35B) and hopefully NGAD will fill that role._

[@baggav99]

it makes sense seeing that most air force doesn't even have 5th generation fighters