Why Can't the F-35 Outrun Older Jets?

So, I was reading about the F-35 Lightning II and it's kinda wild how this super expensive fighter jet can't outrun jets that are like 50 years old. The F-35's top speed is Mach 1.6, which sounds fast, but it's actually slower than the F-15, F-16, and even the old F-4 Phantom II. And don't even get me started on the SR-71 Blackbird - that thing is in a league of its own.

I guess the F-35 is more about stealth and advanced tech than raw speed, which makes sense for modern warfare. But still, it's interesting how they decided speed wasn't a priority even with all that money invested. Makes you wonder about the trade-offs in designing these jets.

What do you guys think? Is speed just not as important anymore with all the stealth technology we have now? And how do you feel about the cost of the F-35 when it can't match the speed of jets from the 70s? Curious to hear your thoughts!

Yeah, the F-35's all about stealth and tech rather than speed. In modern combat, avoiding detection can be way more crucial than just outrunning an enemy. It's like, why sprint when you can be invisible? Plus, it's a multi-role jet, so it's not just built for dogfighting. The cost is another story, though. Crazy expensive, and you'd think for that price it'd be the fastest thing out there. But I guess the military sees more value in its versatility and tech edge. Makes you wonder if future jets will keep sacrificing speed for stealth, huh?

Speed's definitely not the only game anymore. The F-35's designed to be a multirole stealth aircraft, so it's more about being sneaky and having advanced sensors than pure speed. In modern combat, if you can see the enemy without being seen, you've got a huge advantage. The cost is crazy high, though, and that's a whole other debate. But yeah, it's a bit mind-blowing that some older jets can still outpace it. Makes you think about how much warfare priorities have shifted.

I think you're spot on about the F-35 focusing on stealth over speed. Speed's great, but if you can't spot the jet, it doesn't matter how fast it is. Plus, it's got advanced avionics and sensors that older jets can't compete with. The cost thing, though, is a tough pill to swallow. It's a crazy expensive jet, and some folks argue if all that tech justifies the price. But modern warfare's all about being invisible and getting info first, not just dogfights at high speeds.

It's kinda a bummer the F-35 isn't as fast as older jets, but I guess speed's not everything these days. With the tech and stealth features, it's more about not getting detected in the first place. I mean, if an enemy can't see you, they can't chase you down, right? But yeah, you'd think with all that money, they could've squeezed a bit more speed out of it. Makes me wonder if future jets will focus even less on speed.

Yeah, it's weird to think about how the F-35 isn't built for speed. But modern air combat's changed a lot. It's more about getting the drop on your enemy before they even know you're there. Plus, the F-35 can do a lot of things those older jets can't, like network with other aircraft and provide real-time battlefield data. It's like a flying computer. Makes you wonder if future jets will be even slower but packed with even more tech. What do you think the next big thing will be after stealth?