Will we get a hybrid of Block2B and Block3F?

[NytHawk]

10 hours ago, TotenDead said:

 

The Block 3F was the first F35 with full operational capability. Everything before it was a glorified test aircraft.

Block 2B/3I jets could only carry two AMRAAMs internally with no sidewinders and very limited A2G payload.

[TotenDead]

8 часов назад, NytHawk сказал:

The Block 3F was the first F35 with full operational capability. Everything before it was a glorified test aircraft.

 

Isn't 3f the Block that became operational only like about 6-7 years ago? 

16 часов назад, Northstar98 сказал:

No it isn't.

I want an operation variant, of which Block 3F is the first. If I wanted "the most powerful version" I would've said block 4+

It's give me a MiG-23MLA, not a pre-production MiG-23. Give me a 9.12 MiG-29, not a 9.11 MiG-29A.

Unlike with older planes you don't have much choice here

[NytHawk]

2 hours ago, TotenDead said:

Isn't 3f the Block that became operational only like about 6-7 years ago? 

Block 3F entered OT&E in late 2018

[Northstar98]

3 hours ago, TotenDead said:

Unlike with older planes you don't have much choice here

Yes, this is a problem when developing an aircraft that was only recently declared fully operational. It's part of the reason why I think that the F-35 is a poor choice for DCS.

However, developing a pre-IOC aircraft would really solidify that the F-35 is a poor-choice in DCS for me - on top of everything else (like the lack of relevant peer threats, low fidelity sensor modelling, lacklustre EW etc).

And to be honest, the only thing 3F materially improves when it comes to DCS-relevant aerial warfare is external carriage of 2 AIM-9X. Most of the changes relevant for DCS would concern AG armament.

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

On 5/5/2025 at 9:25 AM, Northstar98 said:

 developing a pre-IOC aircraft would really solidify that the F-35 is a poor-choice in DCS for me - on top of everything else (like the lack of relevant peer threats, low fidelity sensor modelling, lacklustre EW etc).

And to be honest, the only thing 3F materially improves when it comes to DCS-relevant aerial warfare is external carriage of 2 AIM-9X. Most of the changes relevant for DCS would concern AG armament.

A Pre-IOC Panther would be disastrous. If we're expecting a production F-35 and we get something like AF-01? That's like asking for a ribeye and then getting eye of round. Yeah, it's identifiable as a steak, but is it the steak you wanted?