I believe it has the same AESA radar system that the F-22 is equipped with. Besides being able to track dozens of targets simultaneously, it can also interfere with enemy radar allowing it to maintain it's stealth profile and lock weapons at the same time. It is even capable of causing physical damage to enemy radar under certain circumstances.

The voice-commands and embedded helmet display are pretty cool...I didnt know about those until I read this article.

I think these are due to start deployment in 2007. It uses internal weapon bays like the F-22, although it's stealth profile isnt quite as good. Unlike the F-22, certain versions can be outfitted with VTOL capabilities, which is why it will be replacing existing Harriers as well.

All models will be vector thrust, giving them far better manuverability than the current generation of fighters. The only criticism I have seen so far is the fact that it is a single engine fighter (if that engine goes out, there is no back up).

__________________
My Political Blog (Last post Feb 14) - My MySpace Page

Sadistic -SAVIOR wrote HEY s SAD this one topic we can agree on. The JSF is an all service fighter so yes it will have a variant for the NAVY, AIR FORCE, and the Mow Reens ..

I didn't realize that it was due for u it deliveries in 2007 or maybe wjhen I first heard about the date it was so far away at the time it seemed as if it was future future land.

You are correct that it will have proactive ECM ( Electronic Counter \Measures) to id and "burn" out enemy radars ( on board ones usually) but some of our enemies are also working on ECCM ( Electronic Counter Counter Measures).

This is all good stuff !!!! All that I can do is watch the young guys play with these nice new toys !!!!!!

__________________
"I was born at night, but it was not last night night"

the thing with double engine on fighters is that thier both in the back so if one goes out, both engines go out, so it doesn't make a difference. It seem that the single engine reduces noise and rader signature. I think it great we have new fighter but we should spend our defense bugets on soldiers and getting better human spies (instead of satilites)

__________________
At twenty a man is full of fight and hope. He wants to reform the world. When he is seventy he still wants to reform the world, but he know he can't.
- Rodney Dangerfield

Htown-Boliviano says We are almost over due to start replacing the F16, F15, and actually way over due to repla ce the A-10.

Let us not forget that we fought the Guld war, the no fly or say good by in Iraq, the Balkan bafooneries by Bubba, and little-BusKIES war with Iraq with aircraft that started flying when I was still in the Air Florce and I am retired. We needed the f-22 and we need the JSF. The Ruskies are not just slouching with aircraft development.

Putin is passing the gas and using the money to rebuild the RED STAR AIR FARCE so we better pay attention. The Chinese are a potential problem child and we better be tready to slap them down. Don't forhget that the North Koreans are led by a very crazy punk. We also do not know what those bozzo Venuzulians with that socialist crazy man will do next.

Furthermore we a handfull of coupes away in South American from some real bad guys taking over key countries.

We need to be ready to do some serious damage on some serious enemies.

All we need is for the little-Shruba doo to decide which country are are going to bring Democracy to next. We will need our AirCraft ready and up to date.

__________________
"I was born at night, but it was not last night night"

...to work for Lockheed Martin. These things are freakin awesome. When I was down in Dallas/Ft.Worth they were tooling up the line for F-22 production. The 35 is soon to follow, though I am not working on it so I do not know when. The beauty part about the JSF is you have one spare parts base, not four or five.

As for replacing my beloved A-10...NEVER. You haven't lived until you've seen a GAU-8 30mm depleted uranium shower turn a tank into shredded wheat. The thing can out-turn an F-16, completely lose one engine, carry 16,000 lbs. of mixed ordinance, and the pilot sits in a bathtub or armor capable of stopping 57mm rounds. NOTHING is comparable to the Warthog as a ground pounder. Long live the hog !!

-The SmilingBandit strikes again !!-
"Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. "
-Gen. George S. Patton-

NOTHING is comparable to the Warthog as a ground pounder. Long live the hog !!

Agreed! Those are very tough aircraft, able to sustain a lot of damage and never missing a beat!

__________________
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival."
Winston Churchill

As an ex-tanker, let me add "Amen." The Warthog may be an unloved stepchild to the Air Force, but I'll take one over a Strike Eagle any day. And I'm dubious that the JSF has the same ground-support capability, given its multimission design.

__________________
Scarred survivor of the April 2008 Mod War.

I still think the Raptor is way cooler....but that is to be expected considering it costs 3-4x as much.

The only thing the JSF has over the Raptor is VTOL capability.

I dont know that for certain...it wasnt in the article. it is something I read a while back.

Of course they are working on it. As far as I know, none of them have yet been successful. And it isnt like we are sitting still.

No one does stealth as good as we do, in spite of the fact that others have the technology. I dont see why ECM technology will be any different. I am confident we will be able to maintain our lead.

Why do they both have to go out? Why does it matter that they are both in the back?

I thought the main incentive was to reduce production costs and enhance fuel efficiency.

The only nation that has ever approached us in military technology are the Soviets. It would be dangerous to underestimate Russia.

As of right now though, they are no threat. They are years behind the Europeans, and the best European fighters are inferior to our''s.

Maybe...but BVR is the future. And in the future, stealth is king. And right now, the Raptor and JSF sit on the stealth throne.

The A-10 might be a lot more fun to play in a video game.

I dont get why people keep saying this...as long as it is well equipped, how can it matter? Attacking BVR produces the same results with far less risk to the pilots. How can that be a bad thing?

__________________
My Political Blog (Last post Feb 14) - My MySpace Page

It's not. But a JSF has only so many missiles, and target discrimination can be difficult if the ground forces are closely engaged or the terrain is rugged.

The A-10 carries a buttload of ordnance, can loiter on the battlefield for a very long time, and it's nose gun allows it to hit targets that are very close to friendlies.

__________________
Scarred survivor of the April 2008 Mod War.

Yah what Ray said about the A10 role on the battlefield... it'za lowspeed close-support ground attack aircraft, therefor it's designation as an 'A'. Can't do that job if yer going mach1 20k feet above the ground.

The "F" planes* are supersonic air superiority fighters, primary role is to clear the skies and maintain airsupremacy so the slowmovers can do their job without being hassled from the sky.


* Except for the F117, which actually should have been designated an A. But since the original F117 pilots were recruited from the best pilots the USAF had, telling these hotshots they'll be driving a pickup truck instead of the ferrari presented a problem. In otherwords it was a marketing ploy to attract the fighter jockeys to join the F117 squadron.

__________________
.




"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan