AFRL calculates adaptive technology will improve engine fuel efficiency by 25% over the F135 powering the F-35, increasing aircraft combat radius by 25-30% and persistence by 30-40%. The engine could also help address the anti-access/area-denial challenges posed by a potential conflict with an near-peer adversary such as China, says AFRL. This could be achieved via increasing supersonic-cruise radius by 50% and reducing the aerial-refueling tanker burden by 30-74%.Go to his site to read the whole thing but yeah. You read that right. Even before the F-35 enters frontline service plans are already being laid for the airplane that the USMC, USN, USAF and our allies are going to depend on....WILL SUPER CRUISE!
I love it!