What's the difference between the state of the art F-35 and the F/A-18?

Question

They both perform about the same so what has the F-35 got that the F/A-18 does not? Is it a big advantage on the F/A-18?

Alternatively, the F-16 compared to the F-35?

Answer 1

Comparing the 35 to the 18 or 16 is like comparing the 18 or 16 to the F-4 Phantom. BIG difference. They do NOT perform the same at all. There is about a 30 years difference in the technology. The F-22 and F-35 are the next generation of air superiority fighter attack planes and will be around for probably 30-40 years. Some believe they may be the last generation of manned fighters but we will have to wait and see. I personally don't think so.

Answer 2

f-35 is expensive and stealth

the f-18 is old and not many countrys are even allowed to buy it

Answer 3

""What's the difference between the state of the art F-35 and the F/A-18?"" The difference is that the state of the art F/A 18 is in use, and the state of the art F-35 is not in use. Until the F-35 is actually in use it cannot be compared to anything; the combat performance is only theoretical.

Answer 4

Aircraft classified as fourth generation jet fighters are those in service approximately from 1980–2010, representing the design concepts of the 1970s. Fourth generation designs are heavily influenced by lessons learned from the previous generation of combat aircraft. Representative fighters include the "teen" series of American fighters (F-14, F-15, F-16, and F/A-18) and the Soviet MiG-29 and Su-27.

The current cutting edge of fighter design combines previous emphasis on versatility with new developments such as thrust vectoring, short takeoff/landing, composite materials, supercruise, stealth technology, advanced radar and sensors, and integrated avionics designed to reduce the pilot's workload while vastly improving situational awareness. The avionics technologies such as glass cockpits and helmet-mounted display and targeting that were developed during Generation 4.5 have been further advanced and integrated into totally new aircraft designs, which draw on lessons learned from fourth-generation stealth, VTOL and composite aircraft like the F-117, B-2 and AV-8 Harrier.

Of these, only the American F-22 Raptor, put into production in 2004, is operational, and is often regarded as the first of a new generation of fighters, termed the "fifth-generation". Design elements of the F-35 Lightning II (formerly Joint Strike Fighter) currently in pre-production, and the F-22 Raptor have influenced continued development of fourth-generation designs

Answer 5

F-35 is stealth, and the Marine Corps version has vertical takeoff capabilities.

edit-

Think about this. If you couldnt see your enemy on radar or get a lock on him, but he could see you from a far away distance, wouldn't you call that a big advantage? h**l Yes!!