patkapsner

Thanks for the responses! I was only asking because this new DB covers through 2025, so even though its capabilities are currently limited it seemed losing payloads that are supposedly in the cards and available in previous DBs seemed strange. It also seems the UK's F-35B version's payloads weren't cut back. During my 30 years in the Navy (22 of them spent with the Marines) I saw many new items brought into use before they were ready, some were probably not really better than the tried and true equipment they were supposed to replace, and I suspect the F-35C falls into that category. IMHO it would have been better to keep improving the F-18. My jarhead air wing buddies still serving do say that the F-35B is much needed and so far they like what they're seeing. Again thanks for the responses.

I noticed a couple things about the F-35 in the DBs that raised flags. Both the Navy and USMC claim a top speed of about mach 1.6, but in the Classic DB it's only slightly over mach 1.1. Also noticed payloads drastically reduced in recent DB, severely limiting anti-radar and anti-ship missions. If this has been addressed elsewhere already my apologies, but I looked and couldn't find it.