Favorite Fighter/Bomber

[C]

What advantage does an F-35 have over a Harrier?  The same advantage it has over the F-16 and F-18 it's slated to replace (or at least supplant).

So what advantage is that?

It's newer and...

...nope, stuck on any practical advantages (well, mentionable ones anyway...)

[F3Hadlow]

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What advantage does an F-35 have over a Harrier?

[Chris_F]

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What advantage does an F-35 have over a Harrier?

[dcunning30]

huh, the F35 will supplant the beloved Harrier manufactured in the UK?  That is an outrage, must criticize the F35!

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]

huh, the F35 will supplant the beloved Harrier manufactured in the UK?

[dcunning30]

[quote][quote]

huh, the F35 will supplant the beloved Harrier manufactured in the UK?

[Chris_F]

[quote][quote]

huh, the F35 will supplant the beloved Harrier manufactured in the UK?

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote][quote][quote]

huh, the F35 will supplant the beloved Harrier manufactured in the UK?

[dcunning30]

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huh, the F35 will supplant the beloved Harrier manufactured in the UK?

[C]

huh, the F35 will supplant the beloved Harrier manufactured in the UK?  That is an outrage, must criticize the F35!

Well, I'm sure you're well aware that despite our "beloved" Harrier being built in the UK, the Harrier II was a mainly US influenced design. A lot of the F-35's avionics and other parts will be developed and sourced in the UK too, as may well the (potentially very novel flight control system).

We're being critical of reasonably important points (its slight obesity problem), and what really was the backwards step of having to go back to the very primitive system of using a seperate lift fan,a dead weight in any operation not requiring V/STOL..

[dcunning30]

[quote][quote]

huh, the F35 will supplant the beloved Harrier manufactured in the UK?

[C]

We're being critical of reasonably important points (its slight obesity problem), and what really was the backwards step of having to go back to the very primitive system of using a seperate lift fan,a dead weight in any operation not requiring V/STOL..

Me thinks Lockheed-Martin should hire you as a consultant!  

I'm sure enough other people told them that anyway!

What would have been interesting is if Boeing, instead of the "thing"* it produced, had come up with a "Harrier III" concept. Having said that, maybe BAE's closer ties with Lockheed-Martin would have been a problem.


*fairest way to describe the X-32's looks!

[Woodlouse2002]

We're being critical of reasonably important points (its slight obesity problem), and what really was the backwards step of having to go back to the very primitive system of using a seperate lift fan,a dead weight in any operation not requiring V/STOL..

Me thinks Lockheed-Martin should hire you as a consultant!

[dcunning30]

Charlie, after doing some reading, what you called a primitive system appears to actually be fairly advanced.

[C]

Charlie, after doing some reading, what you called a primitive system appears to actually be fairly advanced.  Although the seperate lift fan is dead weight  when not in V/STOL mode, it's employment allows it to be able to go supersonic, which the Harrier cannot.

Which is a shame that the Harrier wasn't allowed to be developed into a supersonic aircraft. Had the P.1154 seen the light of day then maybe Harrier II would have been a little different. Being supersonic isn't everything either. In peacetime its a nuisance, and really, for the roles it is taking in British service, not really important. That's not the US' problem though!

It also allows the F35 to take off with a greater payload than the Harrier, and it's scheme allows for cooler air to hit the pavement which reduces wear and tear on the pavement.

Fair point. Really depends on the eventual operation. Whichever way, in the critical (mission wise$) phase of flight, it is a fairly dead weight.