Vocal defense of the F-35

Not all airframes didn't work across services. True, the F-111 didn't work well but the lessons from that went into the F-14. One aircraft that did well across the Navy, Marines, and Air Force was the F-4...it worked very well for a number of years.

What people are failing to consider is the resiliency that comes with multiple airframes and platforms. If we have a single fighter across services and some catastrophic failure grounds the fleet (which with this joke of an aircraft is highly plausible), it introduces an incredible vulnerability. Yes, there is benefit that comes from economies of scale achieved through a single acquisition process, simplified maintenance and logistics requirements and such but national defense and air superiority cannot and should not be purely about efficiency, especially at the expense of effectiveness.

From a project management perspective this was set-up to hide the true cost of the aircraft. Also one big take away was in operations and sustainment. Cost savings derived from inflation is luck and we all know luck is not a plan. Because of the 3 card monte it was to make the O&S cost lower using economies to scale. However these numbers are also riddled with overruns especially with all the cracks in the jump version. In reading this it makes me wonder if one hasn't submitted their resume to Lockheed Martin. They should change the name to the F-35 Spruce Goose.

agreed. it doesnt take a rocket scientist to see this is a horrible idea and has the speakings of people making alot of money on the outside of the DOD.

You have to admit that the jet is cool looking. A cool idea and concept. Just not a reality. This coming from a former F-15 mechanic. I think with upgrades the F-15 is still a better and more proven choice. But to think that one airframe can fulfill the requirements of all military branches is a bit crazy. I just don't see this jet a good choice considering the rest of the 5th Gen aircraft being developed worldwide. But who knows!!!! Maybe it will out-perform every other jet fighter in the world. As far as it taking over the role of the A-10. I just don't see it.

Call me crazy, but if you divide a trillion by 135M per aircraft (give or take) that is cited as the cost per aircraft, you should have roughly 7400 aircraft to show for it. Guess that's why I'm retiring, I never got Department of Defense math.