What does "Former weapons testing at NATO" even mean
? EPVAT testing? Being a weapon tester doesn't qualify someone as an expert on everything, let alone aircraft performance. NATO doesn't even test much as an organization. It organizes major exercises like Trident Juncture or Noble Jump, but the individual member states test the equipment. NATO, outside of EPVAT tests, largely just standardizes equipment. Can't say I ever saw "NATO testers" onboard our heloes during my service
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Just someone on the internet. Try not to make too much of it.
As for the ratings... pilots that fly the F-35 like Norwegian Major Hanche, who also flies F-16s, praise the type's superior kinematic performance and range on internal stores and its stealth features over the legacy bird. For those that operate both types the F-35 is looked at as a modernized F-16 in term of role and performance.
The F-15 has more bodies on it then the F-16 and is a premier A2A aircraft.
In most air forces the F-16 is used more for A2G then A2A.
The F-22 is a demon in the sky, but has a limited offensive loadout, range and numbers.
But I'd still fly these two into combat any-day over the rest of the list.
The rest of the ratings are just chuff. As worthless as opinions get.
