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Introduction

21st century warfare technologies concepts of operations and tactics and training are in
evolution and revolution.

At the heart of reshaping US and allied approaches to airpower and its evolution is the
emergence of the F-35, the significant impact which a global fleet of F-35s will have on
US and allied capabilities and the approaches to leveraging other capabilities in the
warfighting tool kit.

There is always the reactive enemy, so that the roll out of new approaches shaped by the
impact of the F-35 will see reactions from various competitors and responding to these
reactions will part of the re-set of evolving US and allied airpower and combat ap-
proaches.

The F-35 is at the heart of change for a very simple reason – it is a revolutionary plat-
form, and when considered in terms of its fleet impact even more so.

The F-35, Lightning II, has a revolutionary sensor fusion cockpit that makes it effective
in AA, AG and EW.

US and Allied Combat pilots will evolve and share new tactics and training, and over
time this will drive changes that leaders must make for effective command and control
to fight future battles.

An issue has been that the F-35 has been labeled a “fifth generation” aircraft, a sensible
demarcation when the F-22 was being introduced.

But the evolution of the combat systems on the aircraft, the role of the fusion engine,
and the impact of a fleet of integrated F-35s operating as a foundational element will
make this term obsolete.

The global fleet of F-35s will be the foundation for a fundamental change in the way air
power operates and with it overall combats concepts of operations for the US and allied
insertion forces.

Second Line of Defense December 2014

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