IC3M@N FX
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The real issue in the Pacific isn’t just about technology, it’s about range, numbers, and geography.
The F-35 isn’t really built to be the tip of the spear in a large-scale air war over the Pacific. It’s great at sensor fusion, stealth, and networking, but it lacks the range and raw performance to dominate as a front-line fighter in Dogfight and Midrange Fights (Stealth vs Stealth).
It’s better suited as a “second wave” platform or as a battle network hub.
The F-22 is still the strongest jet in terms of stealth and dogfighting, but the U.S. only has about 125 combat-ready Raptors. For a theater as vast as the Pacific, that’s simply not enough—especially when you factor in long distances, tanker dependence, and limited basing options.
China, on the other hand, is fielding the J-20 in larger numbers. It’s not on the same level as the F-22, but it has the range and role flexibility to go after high-value targets like tankers and AWACS. That makes it a real problem in the Pacific.
The F-15EX or Super Hornet can’t really compensate for this gap because they lack stealth, which makes them very limited against J-20s and modern air defense systems.
So in the end: the U.S. still has the better quality, but China has the quantity and the home-field advantage. The real American answer will likely come with NGAD in the 2030s. Until then, the balance in the Pacific leans toward China.
The F-35 isn’t really built to be the tip of the spear in a large-scale air war over the Pacific. It’s great at sensor fusion, stealth, and networking, but it lacks the range and raw performance to dominate as a front-line fighter in Dogfight and Midrange Fights (Stealth vs Stealth).
It’s better suited as a “second wave” platform or as a battle network hub.
The F-22 is still the strongest jet in terms of stealth and dogfighting, but the U.S. only has about 125 combat-ready Raptors. For a theater as vast as the Pacific, that’s simply not enough—especially when you factor in long distances, tanker dependence, and limited basing options.
China, on the other hand, is fielding the J-20 in larger numbers. It’s not on the same level as the F-22, but it has the range and role flexibility to go after high-value targets like tankers and AWACS. That makes it a real problem in the Pacific.
The F-15EX or Super Hornet can’t really compensate for this gap because they lack stealth, which makes them very limited against J-20s and modern air defense systems.
So in the end: the U.S. still has the better quality, but China has the quantity and the home-field advantage. The real American answer will likely come with NGAD in the 2030s. Until then, the balance in the Pacific leans toward China.
