RT/Moscow: A US decision to limit the F-35C's supersonic flight capabilities instead of fixing an issue that increases the risk of tail damage will put a strain on pilots and deal a huge blow to the fighter's combat power, analysts warn.

The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) – a Pentagon agency responsible for developing and acquiring the F-35 fighter jets – recently revealed that a specific construction issue could cause damage to the Navy F-35C jet's tail section if it flies at supersonic speed for a long time. However, it said that this was "not worth fixing," mostly due to the high projected costs of a revamp.

RT/Moscow: A US decision to limit the F-35C's supersonic flight capabilities instead of fixing an issue that increases the risk of tail damage will put a strain on pilots and deal a huge blow to the fighter's combat power, analysts warn.

The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) – a Pentagon agency responsible for developing and acquiring the F-35 fighter jets – recently revealed that a specific construction issue could cause damage to the Navy F-35C jet's tail section if it flies at supersonic speed for a long time. However, it said that this was "not worth fixing," mostly due to the high projected costs of a revamp.

Not up to standard?

The decision appears to be less than optimal, particularly because it defeats the purpose of the much-hyped '5th generation' aircraft in general. Although Lockheed Martin – a company that developed and produced F-35 jets – tends to focus on stealth and electronics when defining its idea of such an aircraft, it still says that it should be capable of "extreme performance." That is what the Navy version of the F-35 will now apparently be lacking.