Will_M said: yeh, but dave, you have not addressed my point: there are faster more agile fighters available
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It is interesting studying the various 5th generation planes in the world today. The Euro-fighter, which you might be alluding to is slightly faster at top end. It has a longer range and smaller size, but smaller payload. The Russian Mig-35, is bigger and faster, a twin engine, and larger payload. Problem is if they are in production, Canada would not be permitted to buy it. The Russians will not allow their technology so close to the US. That's ok of course, the same applies to the F-35.
But even if they would sell it to us, it really is a 4th gen plane with a face-lift. The technology just isn't comparable. It doesn't matter how fast your top speed is when your enemy launches a missile at you from 40 miles away. You are dust and haven't even seen him on your radar screen.
The clincher is the vertical take off and landing. Many nations laugh at Canada because we don't even have an air-craft carrier. As was discovered in Iraq and Afghanistan, runways are crucial to air superiority, and the very survival of your forces. They will always be needed to land big transport planes, but vertical take off and landing allows you to refuel in so many places, there is no way the enemy could find all your sites. Refuel vehicles can drive way out in the desert one hour and a warehouse district two hours later.
Then there is the issue of safety. One of the most impressive things about this aircraft is that it virtually flies itself. No struggling with the stick, No levers, not 49 toggles to be switched in correct order. In a dogfight, its the avionics that will bring this plane on top. Russian jets are very good. Their biggest problem, is their avionics. If they are fighting with the stick, its easy for you to slide behind him in a dog fight.
There are so many things you have to pay attention to when you are flying a fighter. With each generation, and with the fly-by-wire technology, less and less of the pilot's focus need be on flying the plane, and more and more attention can be given to the fight. This plane flies virtually stable in flight without pilot input. Other 5th gen planes don't even compare. They may have great stats, but that doesn't necessarily carry the day. In fact it can be a hindrance, if the pilot, as he approaches the edge of the plane's capabilities has to focus more and more on flying the plane, it means his ability to fight is inversely proportional.
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