The F-35 fighter incorporates all the defining features of a fifth-generation fighter -- advanced stealth, agile maneuver, sensor fusion and high-capacity, secure datalinks. Collectively, those characteristics make it far more survivable and effective in coping with the sophisticated air defenses now becoming available to countries like Syria. (USAF: Courtesy photo Tom Reynolds/Lockheed Martin)
War In Syria Highlights Why U.S. Needs Fifth-Gen Fighters -- Loren Thompson,Forbes
The possibility that America and its allies might impose a no-fly zone over Syria just as they did during previous conflicts in Libya and Iraq is highlighting the importance of having survivable fifth-generation fighters in friendly air forces. Right now those forces consist mainly of older, non-stealthy fighters that Syrian surface-to-air missiles could shoot down in any battle for control of local airspace.
Such concerns have been on the backburner at the Pentagon over the last dozen years as the joint force fought unconventional foes such as the Taliban that lacked air forces and air defenses. Now, though, the focus of military planning is shifting to state-based adversaries that might field so-called integrated air defense networks like China, Iran and North Korea — with Syria looking like an early test case of whether U.S. fighters are up to the challenge.
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My Comment: The U.S. Air Force already has a fleet of fifth-gen fighters (i.e. F-22s) .... and I have my doubts that these planes will even be used in a U.S. - Syrian conflict scenario.
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