It Has No Equal: The F-35 Is Far More Than A Stealth Fighter

As the multi-national acquisition of the F-35 aircraft explodes throughout Europe and hundreds of new F-35s slowly arrive at military bases, many are likely to wonder whether the famous fighter should be considered the world’s “best” fighter jet. Called a “flying computer” and well-known for its “sensor fusion,” targeting range, and drone-like surveillance technology, the F-35 simply may not have an equivalent. Does it? 

Competitive Edge

Certainly, Russia’s Su-57 and Chinese J-20 and J-31 represent great power efforts to match or “out-perform” the U.S. F-35, yet there are a handful of specific attributes which rival-nation 5th-generation aircraft would need to match. Perhaps the first and most visible F-35 characteristic that likely proves difficult to replicate is simply the existence of three variants. 

At the moment, it does not appear that any rival nation operates an F-35B-like vertical take-off and landing 5th-generation aircraft able to operate from smaller-deck amphibious assault ships. Added to this equation, it is also not clear whether any rival nations operate a carrier-launched F-35C equivalent. The Chinese are of course engineering the J-31 for carrier-launch operations, yet it is not clear how far along or combat-ready this aircraft is. 

Beyond mere configuration, there are a number of key technological attributes that rival 5th-generation offerings may be challenged to replicate, such as sensor range and fidelity, AI-enabled computing, threat library mission data files, flight automation, weapons envelope, manned-unmanned teaming, and fleet-wide data link networking. 

One of the clear and perhaps most impactful F-35 advantages shown in wargames is that the range and fidelity of its targeting and sensors are not only enabled by integrated, high-speed data integration and processing or “sensor fusion,” but also the sensors are able to reach unprecedented ranges. 

Wargames using the F-35 as well as live fire exercises such as the Air Force’s Red Flag have shown that an F-35 can see and destroy large formations of enemy fighters from standoff distances where it cannot be “seen” or detected by an enemy. In this kind of scenario, which has been shown in several wargames, a single F-35 has proven able to see, identify, and destroy larger numbers of enemy airplanes without placing itself within a line of fire.

This means the Distributed Aperture System, a 360-degree sensor camera view around the fuselage, coupled with long-range electro-optical targeting technology, are able to see enemy threats, quickly identify them by bouncing them off a computer data library of known threats called Mission Data Files, and use precision-guided long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons to destroy enemies while itself operating at safe distances.

All of this, quite significantly, is enabled by so-called “sensor fusion,” a term to describe sensor data integration wherein pertinent, time-sensitive details from otherwise disparate sensor streams are integrated into a single, user-friendly data screen for pilots.

This massively streamlines operations and, due to the rapid progress of AI-enabled computing and data processing, is only getting faster and more precise with its analysis and breadth of information. 

Although conceived of years ago, this ‘sensor-fusion” computing is widely regarded as an early iteration of AI-data processing, technology now weaving its way into most U.S. military weapons systems and enabling paradigm-changing levels of multi-domain networking.

Therefore, if a Chinese J-20 or Russian Su-57 did not have targeting sensors or computing that was in any way comparable to the F-35, other attributes would not even matter much.

In short, whichever aircraft is best able to complete the OODA Loop (Observation, Orientation, Decision, Action) and operate within or ahead of an enemy’s decision cycle is likely to prevail by destroying the enemy faster than it can itself be hit. Completing this process requires expedited sensing, computer processing, data analysis, and integration, all F-35 attributes which may or may not be matched by adversary 5th-gen aircraft. 

Adversaries in the Skies

The J-20 does operate with a “bomb-truck”-like capacity to deliver more ordnance than an F-35 on a single mission, as it can take off with 27,998 pounds of internal and external ordnance, compared with an F-35 in beast mode, which can travel with 18,000 pounds of weapons. A full internal and external weapons complement, however, does compromise stealth by generating a larger and more precise radar return signal to adversary air defenses. 

One real margin of difference when it comes to superiority likely resides in the range and accuracy of its targeting and mission systems. Another important factor to consider is the issue of stealth properties, as the F-35 is not only built with a stealthy configuration but also manufactured with a special blend of composites and radar-absorbent materials likely difficult for Russia and China to replicate. Certainly, the J-31, J-20, and Su-57 all look stealthy in terms of external configuration, but the extent to which their thermal signature and coating rival the F-35 is likely much more difficult to determine.  

Other critical points of comparison pertain to combat-critical functions such as data networking, weapons range, and “guidance” technology. For instance, the F-35 can now fire the AIM-9X “off-boresight,” meaning the weapon can change course and redirect in flight to attack otherwise unreachable targets behind or to the side of an aircraft. Enabled by a helmet-mounted cueing system, which is now able to operate at night, F-35 weapons engagement is hitting new levels of accuracy, range, and precision. The F-35A is also nuclear-capable as it will fly with the B-61 Mod 12, yet another variable which Russian and Chinese aircraft may or may not be able to replicate. 

Should an F-35 detect, identify and attack a Chinese J-20 behind it with course-correcting AIM-9X air-to-air missiles from safe distances, the Chinese aircraft might have difficulty surviving. 

Most of these aforementioned variables rely upon a somewhat underrecognized but increasingly vital ability to “network” data across a joint force in real time. All F-35s, including those from allied countries and recent F-35 customers such as Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and others, can instantly and securely share data across large, multi-national formations using what’s known as Multi-Function Data Link (MADL).

The MADL data link is engineered with technical interfaces such that all variants from all F-35 nations can seamlessly connect with one another, sharing intelligence data, threat detail, or targeting specifics. This of course widens the operational envelope given the sheer fleet-size advantage enjoyed by F-35 nations.  

Part of the F-35’s versatility also includes experimental efforts demonstrated thus far, which involve using the F-35 as an aerial “gateway” sensor node for anti-ship missile defense, connecting surface-ship radar beyond the horizon, testing the F-35 as a sensor node for missile defense and flying an F-35 networked to controlling an unmanned “loyal wingman” drone.

Both Chinese and Russian news reports suggest each of these rival nations are attempting their own applications of aerial manned-unmanned teaming, it is not clear how far along they are and if they can rival F-35 networking and drone command and control.

F-35 & 6th-Gen Fly Together

Although the now “in flight” 6th-gen stealth fighter is largely “black” and has yet to be seen, senior Pentagon leaders explain it will be a high-speed, stealthy “family of systems” more likely to replace the F-22 than an F-35. As a multi-role fighter, the F-35 is designed for ISR, longer-range targeting, and a range of networking technologies, although the plane is of course fast and can dogfight. However, the Pentagon has outlined a longstanding and ambitious continuous modernization plan for the F-35.

Most of the breakthrough advances are likely to arrive in the realm of computing, mission systems, weapons guidance, targeting, and AI-enabled data processing, the 5th-gen aircraft can become an almost entirely different plane without any changes being made to its external structure.

Certainly, new radar absorbent materials, coatings, and even thermal management technologies are likely to emerge, yet the core fuselage may remain intact, something in line with the Pentagon’s plan to fly the F-35 into the 2070s.

This is significant, as the F-35 is expected to fly alongside and in support of the NGAD 6th-generation aircraft for decades into the future. 

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Kris Osborn is the Military Affairs Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.