The link is to a short video from Ars Technica, but there is a transcript you can read if you do not want to take the time to watch the video. Short take: the strategy to deal with spiraling costs of jet fighters was for the services to make due with a smaller number of high-end/high-cost air superiority fighters and a larger number of less expensive fighters to fill other roles such as basic air defense, strike missions, and close air support. In the Air Force, for example you had the F-15 (the high cost plane) augmented by the F-16 (the low cost plane). Moving forward, the F-15 was supposed to be replaced by the F-22 and the F-16 by the F-35. But the F-35 ballooned in cost and now the Air Force is seeking a different aircraft to replace the F-16. Which indicates that the F-35 isn't working out.
Yup. It's probably pretty capable, but it is (from everything I see) overly complicated.
ReplyDeleteA consequence of being designed by committee where it needed to be able to do everything. But that it was never intended to be an air-superiority fighter goes a long way to explain why the F-35 lacks powerful engines.
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