The main point of the F-35 is to develop information gathering (Big data for aerial combat), processing, situational awareness and fast computing and club that into a VLO airframe and with the performance requirements that are pretty much ahead of or equal to the best qualities (in relevant scenarios) of the f-16 and F-18. So you will see that in realistic loads its sustained turning and hot rod acceleration would be largely similar to the F-16 (thats where the f-16 shines amongst its peer group) while its low speed high AOA stuff is similar or superior to the F-18's (thats where it shines compared to other western multi-role fighters). It has more sensor inputs, better computing, 3 times the software of the F-22A and has the ability to distribute data in real time across platforms with the new waveforms. It also has an avionics and sensor suite that uniquely supports WVR combat where the F-22 kind off falls off largely due to a lack of off boresight cuing and a DAS like sensor.
The F-35 is an offensive weapon if you want to take the war to the opposition. Its a very good CAS, SEAD, DEAD platform and in air to air, can leverage its networking, SA, stealth and electronic warfare capabilities to patrol the skies. The F-22, uses its radar and speed/alititude combination to pick off fighters from high above trading a lot for affordability (2 engines, 70K thrust - high speed requirements) and range (speed even without AB's reduces range). The F-35 is a perfectly good Air to Air platform unlike what many think, its just that much like the F-16, its CONOPS in the Air to Air domain would be different than the F-22's for obvious reasons. Each platform leverages its own strengths to do what it is supposed to. So back to the PAKFA, if you have bought it as a top end cover for your fighter fleet, much like the F-22 is to the USAF, then the F-35 really adds nothing to that mission since it would not do air-superiority in that manner (horses for courses). F-35 will be the primary Air to Air asset for the majority of the operators including forces like JAPAN, USN, SOKO, RAAF, RN, and much of the USAF, but it would not operate in the same manner as the F-22 would, so if that is the way the IAF wishes to use its 5th generation fighter then the PAKFA is the only option in that category. The F-35 would be used in the "swing role" way much like the Rafale, Typhoon, Gripen, F-16 etc.
The verdict is still out as to what the final PAKFA will look like, capabilities it possesses and what sort of timelines are realistically possible. We still have an engine in development (again mixed signals whether the current engine is the one the IAF will get as POGO has said something that other media reports contradict), folks still claim that its STEALTH isn't fully added yet and that the design would evolve to better cover all the aspect of the aircraft. yet others claim that they have intentionally traded off stealth for other considerations. What sort of finish, etc is on the final serial produced jets and what sort of reliability in the systems and sub-systems is possible. We also do not know the size and scope of the integration and software development program so in reality the final product that the IAF gets is not completely known to us to try to gauge what sort of timelines are realistically possible with what capability and what design changes compared to the prototypes flying atm. The Russians sure know how to build very capable fighters, but the timelines are what would really matter for both the IAF and the RuAF that has not sent the PAFKA out into serial production while the F-22 went into serial production around a dozen years ago if not more (i think more). The reason I speak of timelines is not so much for the F-22 or the F-35 (thats russia's problem vis-a-vis NATO) but because the Chinese are rapidly fielding advanced SAM's, S-300's, HQ-9 and as per some reports have recently finalized the purchase of the S400 which they would surely copy. They are also investing in large radars covering most frequency domains. The timelines for PAKFA introduction would have to be compared to the A2AD buildup of the chinese to see how much of the PAKFA they can deny given that it is likely to be a SOLE stealth platform for the IAF for the offensive/penetrative missions for quite a while until other projects are developed. The J-21/J31 are lesser threats from that point of view since its much easier and cheaper to develop IADS then 5th generation fighters.
The newspaper "Vedomosti" November 26, 2014 published an article by Alexei Nikolsky "signed a contract to supply China with Russian anti-aircraft missile systems S-400", which reports that Russia has signed a contract with China for the supply of anti-aircraft missile systems, long-range S-400 "Triumph", negotiating the sale of which there were a few years.
Manager of one of the Russian enterprises of the military-industrial complex and a person close to the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry, told "Vedomosti" that at the beginning of this autumn a contract was signed between "Rosoboronexport" and the Ministry of National Defense to supply at least six divisions anti-missile system C-400 in the amount of more than $ 3 billion. The representative of "Rosoboronexport" was yesterday unavailable for the press representative Concern PVO "Almaz-Antey" (developer of the C-400) declined to comment.
Negotiations on the supply of S-400 in China has been going on for several years, while in 2011, leadership of the Russian military department stated that the delivery system for export may be no earlier than 2016 - because of the need to implement a program for the supply of the Russian Armed Forces. In the spring of 2014 the newspaper "Kommersant" reported that President Vladimir Putin has approved the delivery of S-400 in China, and in July the head of the Russian presidential administration Sergei Ivanov said that the first foreign customer of this system can be precisely China.
At various times reported interest in the long-range air defense system on the part of Saudi Arabia, but the talks were suspended. On his desire to purchase such a system represents and the Department of Defense of Belarus, marketing system was conducted in Libya. C-400 was also involved, but to no avail, in the tender for the purchase of anti-aircraft missile systems armed forces of Turkey, the first in this tender victory of the Chinese anti-aircraft missile system HQ-9, made "based on" the Russian S-300PMU-2. Later, in the autumn of 2013, Turkey abolished the results of the tender under the pressure of its partners in the North Atlantic Alliance.
Anti-aircraft missile system S-400 is designed using experience in developing anti-aircraft missile systems, long-range C-300P, one of the main buyers in foreign countries which was also People's Liberation Army. Last contract for the purchase of 15 battalions of antiaircraft missile systems S-300PMU-2 was carried out "Rosoboronexport" in 2010
Long-range systems such as the S-300P exported after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Vietnam, Algeria, Azerbaijan and Cyprus (currently set Cypriots systems are in the armed forces of Greece) and in the presence of the Russian Armed Forces - in Kazakhstan and Belarus. The contract for the supply of S-300 to Iran was canceled for political reasons in 2010, and execution of the contract for the supply of S-300 to Syria suspended due to the civil war in this country. In Venezuela and Egypt were delivered than the S-300P systems such as S-300B, originally developed not for the defense forces of the country, and for the defense of the Ground Forces.
Despite the fact that over the past 15 years, the Chinese defense industry sharply raised its level remained segments where it has not yet been able to prove their worth, the director of the Center for Strategic conditions Ivan Konovalov. According to him, most likely this latest system, along with other modern weapons systems will be placed by the Chinese army in the south of the country in order to control the airspace over Taiwan and the disputed islands in the surrounding waters.
you scratch me, i will scratch you. we shall bless each other.
