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I may be a year or so off on when production will be ready. I apologize for not having all the facts. Most of what I read about the F-35 was last year and I’m going off my memory here. I’m just very wary of any defense project when it’s biggest defense is that there are a lot of jobs at stake. You might be right, but I’m going to hold my powder until I read more about this. There have been many times in the past when weapons systems have been forced on services for bad reasons. Remember the Sgt York? If not, read about stupid weapons systems that we should have never spent a dime on.

While holding your powder, why not ask the pilots who take them into combat what they think? Ask them how old "their" airplane is. Ask them what they think they'll have to fight next year, 5 years from now or a decade or so and ask them what they'd like to be flying against it. Don't be too surprised if they tell you "Raptor!"

If they're not flying fighters, then ask them what they want to have watching their backs. I bet you get the same answer.

Believe what you want to, but the F-22 is the real deal. I liked the YF-23 better, but the military didn't see it that way.