30 Jun 2019, 14:55
I missed the earlier discussion about gun employment.
Regarding it, I recall some wink-wink-nod-nod comments made by a (younger?) USAF F-35 driver, and commented on this site, about developing tactics and techniques to employ the gun. I do not recall the thread. The gist was that if one could sneak up on one's adversary, you could gun them before they knew what hit them. A stealth variation on the old attacking out of the sun tactic, it would seem. But those in the know certainly do not appear to be publicly talking about it.
If an F-22 can suddenly materialize above or below an Iranian F-4 or F-14 and tell it to go home... then this would seem to be a valid tactic.
But getting a gun kill in a 1v1, 2v1, or swirling maelstrom when the target is alerted, defensive, and has some E is no easy task.
Take an F-16, stir in A-7, dollop of F-117, gob of F-22, dash of F/A-18, sprinkle with AV-8B, stir well + bake. Whaddya get? F-35.