“trying to force fit one airplane into missions that are vastly different for three services. “
Exactly. The aerodynamics of low speed loiter flight are greatly different from transonic and especially supersonic flight. And what do you need stealth for when you are just whacking backward camel humpers? Jack of all trades master of none.
>> Jack of all trades master of none.<<
That was SUPPOSED to be the F35. It was supposed to be a really good, upper-end MRF used by the US, NATO and our allies. Having one shared airframe would mean interchangeable mechanics and parts across the globe.
It was supposed to replace a hodgepodge of about 15 or 20 comparable milcraft (including the F18, the hole left by the F14, the upper-end F-16s and others) with a unified solution — and since it would be a unified platform it would be overall cheaper for EVERYONE.
Wonderful idea and I was one of its biggest proponents.
Now, F35 as it is now supporters, does that sound ANYTHING like what the F35 program has unfolded?
Instead we have not only 3 major variants but there are variants within the variants — attempts to change its mission profile have resulted it can meet none of the new mission parameters and rushing has resulted in billions in redos. A multibillion $ example of “never time to do it right, always time to do it over.”