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US authorities ask locals for help in finding missing F-35 jet — Authorities say they are searching for the $80m jet around two lakes in the state of South Carolina

US authorities ask locals for help in finding missing F-35 jet

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/18/us-authorities-ask-locals-for-help-in-finding-missing-f-35-jet

Authorities say they are searching for the $80m jet around two lakes in the state of South Carolina.

US authorities ask locals for help in finding missing F-35 jet — Authorities say they are searching for the $80m jet around two lakes in the state of South Carolina::Authorities say they are searching for the $80m jet around two lakes in the state of South Carolina.

35 comments

galil3o

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Better question is why, at $80m per plane, they cant find a way to track these assets even when they crash

extant

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Because they spent $80 million dollars to make it untraceable so it wouldn't get shot down.

billiam0202

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If your plane crashes over unfriendly territory, you don't want to make it easier for them to get their hands on it.

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever

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Exactly

If you have a beacon? Even an insanely directional connection to a GPS satelite is still going to bounce off clouds and the like.

And a beacon that triggers the moment it crashes? The expected crash location is not The Hardy Boyz Compound. It is Iraq or Russia or China. Every minute we can buy to "dispose of" any of the juicy bits matters.

thecrotch

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Better question is why is 1/3rd of my paycheck being stolen every week so we can build, and lose, fleets of $80 million planes

Ace0fBlades

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Exactly, I feel like even admitting they can't find it is a operational security blunder?

jsh

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Or just really good marketing. (for LMT)

eestileib

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Kind of crazy as someone who's been around the block to see F-35 referred to as a "$80M aircraft".

Economies of scale DID actually kick in this time, unlike (gestures to every other stealth aircraft).

ZapBeebz_

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Frankly, it helps that this one is being exported to pretty much the whole of NATO (and then some). Enough countries outside the USA are funneling money in that the R&D actually is worth it this time.

greaterthanstupid

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meanwhile, at the Legion of Doom

gregorum

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[hissing laughter ensues]

agent_flounder

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Oh shit.... I know where it is...

https://charleston.craigslist.org/avo/d/mount-pleasant-stealth-fighter/7667184419.html

Etienne_Dahu

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I laughed too hard at the ad, it's got all the right classic jokes and I still found it funny.

over_clox

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Love it! Archived...

https://tinyurl.com/missingf35

eee

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there's like 6 different ads for it now https://charleston.craigslist.org/search/ava?purveyor=owner#search=1~gallery~0~0

northendtrooper

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Did...did they look in the lakes?

andrew

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I mean, that seems like the most likely place, but it's not like there's a nice crater or trail or anything. Especially if the jet glided to a splashdown it may not have even left any debris to help guide search efforts in the lakes.

Sylver

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If I find it, can I fly it back to base?

Sharpiemarker

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I think finders keepers still applies here.

greybeard

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It's a legitimate salvage.

Capricorny90210

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Possession is 9/10ths of the law.

gregorum

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One would hope that flying an F-35 is beyond the capabilities of the average civilian.

ScrollerBall

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God bless the idiot-proof AirForce

https://yourimageshare.com/ib/7GdKZTMFW9

MinorLaceration

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Concerning the pilot wasn't able to fly it back, I'll with you the best of luck with your endeavor.

theragu40

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What is this, a Zelda side quest? Lol. I'd love to help you find the princess but I'm just so broken up over this missing F-35. If you can help me find it, I think I'll be able to remember where I saw her last. There might also be 20 rupees in it for ya. Thanks!

FlyingSquid

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A missing jet is nothing.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/us-military-missing-six-nuclear-weapons-180032

just_another_person

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You'd think they'd have GPS on these things. Lowjack at the very least.

maniacal_gaff

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GPS is passively received.

BradleyUffner

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Slap an AirTag on it at least.

ikidd

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I'd imagine they would have RTK with a CGA response on something worth $80M. I put that in a drone for $250. But idk if it would be able to respond underwater. You'd think they'd have a track up until it went under.

Dashi

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I'm not an engineer, or have any real qualifications on the subject. But I'm guessing you would want to cut all transmissions you can from a stealth jet.

maniacal_gaff

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RTK requires a separate receiver which is located nearby and has a comms link (unlikely for a fast moving attack aircraft) and only reduces the accuracy from meters to cm. Not sure there's much need there.