I commanded an F-35B squadron. People win wars, not technology

China's J-35 stealth fighter launched from carrier in September, but former F-35 pilot argues American military leadership, not technology, ensures dominance at sea.

Advanced technology amplifies our capabilities, but it means nothing if you can’t lead. And that’s the real advantage of the U.S. military. Not the aircraft, not our technology; it’s our leaders.  Dave Berke is a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot, TOPGUN Instructor, and now leadership instructor at Echelon Front. He is the author of "The Need to Lead: A TOPGUN Instructor's Lessons on How Leadership Solves Every Challenge (Extreme Ownership Series, 3)" which was published in October. 

The J-35 is a notable step forward for China’s aviation fleet. Their fifth-generation stealth fighter is designed to meet the punishing demands of carrier operations: catapult launches, arrested landings, corrosion, salt spray and constant exposure to the harsh maritime environment. The sea is no joke, and it can be deadly. To handle those rigors, a jet’s airframe is heavily reinforced, its landing gear strengthened and its systems adapted for naval operations. On paper, it’s impressive.