Page 62 - Williams Foundation Integrated Force Design Seminar

Designing the Integrated Force: How to Define and Meet the Challenge?

We are looking at a very different kind of aircraft and a different kind of combat capability with the F-35
compared to our legacy fleet of Hornets and Super Hornets.

We had a saying as fighter pilots when talking fourth generation tactics, which is – speed is life and more is
better.

In a fourth gen fight, if I could get higher and faster more quickly than the adversary, I would give my
weapons more energy and I could launch my weapons first. If I achieve a first launch, then chances are I’ll
survive.

That’s a simplistic look at 4th generation tactics but that was why speed was so important back in the day.

A lot of people are still hanging onto that concept.

Whilst speed is still a factor in a 5th generation environment, the whole mindset has shifted to now
‘information is life, and more is better’.
The information dominance of this particular platform is purely outstanding.

We’ve seen in this most recent Red Flag where F-35As were participating for the first time, that even if the F-
35s had dropped all their weapons and had fired their missiles, they were still remaining inside the airspace
to provide situational awareness to the rest of the participants in that force.

The information gathering and information sharing capabilities of this aircaft are so far advanced compared
to anything else out there.

The information sharing capability of the platform is purely outstanding.

Knowing exactly what’s going on in the battlespace at any one particular time is the key to success and the
key to survival in a 5th generation fight.

In a fourth generation world, I had to manipulate multiple sensors to be able to do that.
I had to take my radar display, and other displays and work integration in my head while flying the aircraft.

I had to take in communications from our controllers.

I had to take in communications and data from a wingman to build the picture until my platform was in a
position where I could see the adversaries.

I don’t have to do that anymore, because of the data fusion capabilities of the F-35, which provides
extraordinary situational awareness to the pilot.

Question: You are also focusing in your description on the need to have multiple support assets flying
with you to support your strike mission as well?

Wing Commander Bradley: There’s no actual requirement, as such, to fly with multiple support assets, as the F-
35 can operate successfully without them.
Having said that, by executing in this fashion you won’t necessarily get the most out of F-35 system.

Flying with support systems such as E-7A Wedgetail, EA-18G Growler or the Air Warfare Destroyers in a
maritime sense, ensures that the F-35 system is functioning as efficiently and effectively as possible, meaning
that you are getting the most out of it.
Second Line of Defense

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