Is the F-35 or the Tempest the better fighter?

[Anonymous]

[Soteris]

Depends on their applications. Personally I dont think either are that worthwhile. First of all the ability to shoot down aircraft has come a long way which is a problem for planes as unlike tanks or troops on the ground, there is no convenient hill to hide behind. Once you are in the air you become a target in plain sight. Stealth technology is only a partial solution to this problem since it can both be countered and is not perfect anyways.

Secondly we have cost. Modern planes are monstrously expensive to both build, fly and maintain. I do not think the work that they do combined with the risks they have justify the costs.

Lastly we have the job that they do. At this point jets are honestly just missile platforms. They are the less important thing that the important part is attached to. Regardless of the capabilities of the plane the missiles can be effectively fired from miles away. As such I dont really see the point of either of them. I struggle to see a use for them that can't be fulfilled by a drone for a fraction of the cost and at no risk for the human pilot.

[ChrisMaster69]

At present between the two it’s the F35, however Typhoon was slapping it at flag.

Tempest is likely to be a mix of Japan, Sweden, Italy and UK, it’s also getting a load of cash pushed on to it, as it’s seen as a go live project which started with Taranis.

The biggest change will be the incorporation of LANCA with F35 etc.

This is an advance on Swarm project.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/what-we-do/team-tempest/lanca/

The Russians have proven to be a good number of generations behind with their platforms, apart from potentially hypersonic but they will likely be passed in next year or so.
The cash was never really there for hypersonics, now it is and they have the tech to complete it.

[BCA6010]

The F35 is really nothing special beyond some of its computer systems. In terms of what it can do, it's basically a stealthy F-16/F-18 mass production plane that can do a bit of everything but masters nothing. A dedicated interceptor or fighter-bomber or CAS fighter will likely outperform it in those specific roles, and it would be relatively easy to do.

The BAE Tempest isn't even in the testing stages yet, so anything you find on this one is speculative, at best, and the earliest it would even be seeing service is 2035. By that point, the US will be entertaining replacement projects for the F35.

[abc3643]

Well, for one thing, the F-35 is operational, but the Tempest is not, so, the F-35 is better. ;)
However, the F-35 is a 5th Generation fighter and the Tempest will be a 6th Generation fighter, so I hope it will be better.

When I was working on the testing of the flight controls for the F-35, my buddies and I thought the single-engine design of the F-35 was not good; pilots like the 2nd engine in case one goes out. The Tempest is planned to have two engines. Downside: They will be Rolls-Royce engines and not a GE or P&W engine. RR has had problems with their Trent 1000 engines, so I am not so sure that they have their shit together for a new fighter.

[jshm2]

On paper, the Tempest.

But it's unlikely the Tempest will be constructed to paper specifications - if it ever gets built at all.

Both the F-35 and Tempest cannot match Russian Avangard missiles. Hence it's unlikely the Tempest will be built for anything but the museum.

[tartaarsaus]

Obviously a jet fighter cannot match a hypersonic glide vehicle.

These are things built for completely different purposes.

What an absolutely stupid comparison, honestly

[tartaarsaus]

F-35 exists. Tempest is hypothetical, at best. Right now, F-35 is therefore better.


But if Tempest becomes reality it’ll probably be more modern and therefore better than current F-35s. But that may take like 20 years for that to happen anyway

[Anonymous]

What’s the point. We’re not going to have aerial dogfights anytime soon. The days of Top Gun and MiG Alley are over. We don’t need new fighter jets.

[KrakenAttackin]

I don't know much about the Tempest. I am not a huge fan of the F-35.

[Pterodon]

F35.