Robert E. Drabant

’67 Graduate USAFA
’69 Masters in Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado – Boulder, Co

Why I think the “5 Kills” web site is important by Major Robert E. Drabant, USAF Retired
The 5 Kills website is important since it identifies the deficiencies in the F-35 aircraft to help the F-22 and F-18E gain and maintain Air Superiority. It should be remembered that our ground troops have not had a threat from the air since World War II. Why was this so? It is because the Air Force and Navy gained and maintained Air Superiority in every conflict since then. In the near future both Russia with their SU-57 fifth generation aircraft and especially the Chinese with their J-20 and J-31 fifth generation aircraft will make it extremely difficult for the 183 F-22s and F-18Es to gain and maintain Air Superiority. Proponents of the F-35 say that it can help these aircraft do the job because of its stealth capabilities and all knowing all seeing DAS system. However, let’s look at what the F-35 can bring to the fight. It can bring 4 AIM-120 AMRRAM missiles per airplane. Once these are shot, it is done and must go home since all the A model has is 181 rounds of 25mm bullets. It doesn’t have any AIM-9 missiles unless it carried them externally which will hurt its stealth cover. The B and C (Marine and Navy) models do NOT have an internal gun, but can mount a “stealthy” 25mm gun pod on the aircraft centerline which has 220 rounds of 25mm ammunition. External carriage hurts the stealth cover. Consequently, the F-35 does NOT want to get into an air combat maneuvering situation or dogfight. I almost forgot to mention that as far as I know, the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile does not have a Probability of Kill of 1.0 so the likelihood of each F-35 being able to kill 4 adversaries is very low and if he/she was lucky he might shoot down two (2).

Related Experience in Fighter Design, Energy Maneuverability, Operational Test and Evaluation

*Trained by and Mentor of John Boyd throughout military and civilian career.

*Authority on Energy Maneuverability and Performance Based Design.

*12 Years Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) on Active Duty:

*F-15

*MiG-23

*F-16

*F-117

23 Years Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) as Civil Servant on these Mission Data Series (MDS):

*F-15, F-16, F-117 (Continued Work).

*A-10

*F-22,

*B-1, B-2, B-52

*MQ-1, MQ-9, RQ-4

*U-2S,

*HH-60G

*HAVE Projects

*Guardian Angel Para Rescue Jumpers.

*Expert knowledge of Stealth concepts, design, and implementation on all aero vehicles.

*Authored multiple Test and Analysis Reports.

*References Available Upon Request.