Whatever you’ve read recently about the defeat of 5th-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighters by 4th-generation Russian fighters during a simulated combat exercise in Hawaii, don’t believe it. That’s the word of F-35 program executive officer Maj. Gen. Charles Davis in a Lockheed Martin release. The pseudo news apparently has made the rounds, such as in this Sydney Morning Herald report that captures anti-JSF sentiment. Davis declared, “The reports are completely false and misleading and have absolutely no basis in fact.” Davis said that all analysis to date shows “the F-35 enjoys a significant Combat Loss Exchange Ratio advantage over the current and future air-to-air threats, to include Sukhois [Russian fighters].” He went on to say that the wargame mentioned in the various news reports did “not even address air-to-air combat effectiveness,” instead it was a table-top exercise focused on basing and force-structure vulnerabilities. The Lockheed release provides a run-down of facts refuting anti-F-35 claims.
NATO Scrambles Fighter in Newest Response to Russian Drones
Sept. 16, 2025
NATO scrambled its first fighter Sept. 13 under its new plan to bolster its defenses against Russian air incursions that was put into place after an array of Russian drones flew into Polish airspace last week, the officials from the alliance’s military command said.
