Our Perspective in “5 Kills” evolved as we researched materials you see here:

1. AGAIN we are not AGAINST THE F-35. We think the jet does and will do an awesome job at what it was designed to do. The F-35 was designed as a Joint Strike Fighter.
2. The F-35 is not suited for the dedicated Air Superiority mission primarily due to limited performance and weapons load out in a stealth configuration.
3. If the F35 cannot execute the Air Superiority mission then we have no strong Air Superiority arm from now until 2030 which is the scheduled arrival of the next USAF Air Superiority Fighter.
4. Were is the F-22? Our Premier Air Superiority Fighter? As of this writing we have 100 or so left to fight. Why? In 2009 our SecDef, Mr. Bob Gates, cut off production of the F-22 at 180 of the original 700 + planned for. Why? No sweat. The F-35 will pick up the slack.
5. In all probability we will not have that next 6th generation Air Superiority Fighter until 2035+. First, we cannot count on the operational service date of 2030. We are historically late. How late was the F-22? The F-35? Second, the planned operational date does not mean that we will have the numbers of dedicated Air Superiority Fighters ready and on hand on that date be it 400 or 500 or whatever numbers finally make it to production.
6. The Russians and Chinese are still chasing the F-22 with a passion for a very good reason. They recognize the need for capabilities on a par with or better than the F-22. They are behind. They are so far behind that they are benefiting from new emerging technologies that were not available to the F-22. The J-20 has a 6 axis EO threat warning system as does the F-35. The F-22 does not have that system. The J-20 and T-50 have sophisticated Helmet Mounted Displays. The F-22 does not even have a Helmet Mounted sight to slew missile seekers. Like the Mig 29 has. What other emerging advances are now and included in the Russian T-50 and Chinese J-20? As they chase a platform with F-22 capabilities?
7. We need a “Skunk Works” effort to roll a baseline F-22 into a barn in the high desert, take our best and brightest and lock them in the barn, and the doors don’t open until a new “bad ass” derivative F-22 X rolls out the front door. We need that done yesterday. SEE #8 below.
8. DO NOT TELL US IT CAN”T BE DONE USING BAR GRAPHS EXPLAINING THE AFFORDABILITY CURVE IS NOT PRUDENT AND ANGLE OF THE DANGLE IS POINTED THE WRONG WAY.WE MUST DO IT. AS AMERICANS WE HAVE TO DO IT. LOSING A CONVENTIONAL CONFLICT WILL LAY TO ABSOLUTE WASTE ANY BAR CHART OR COST CURVE OR STOCK OPTIONS THE LOCKHEED BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR PHDS FROM MIT OR MBAS FROM HARVARD OR BOB GATES EVER DREAMED UP.THERE IS NO CHEAP SUBSTITUTE FOR REAL AIR SUPERIROITY.

   WE ARE TALKNG NATIONAL SECURITY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOSING A CONVENTIONAL CONFLICT FIGHTING THE SOVIETS OR CHINESE OR THEIR ALLIES.

9. We have a fighting chance. The Bob Gates & the National Leadership & political rot of that era are gone. Hopefully for good. Such collective incompetence with pandering and weak decisions will bring a strong country like America to its knees. Sooner or later. Not today.