Boeing’s X-32 Stealth Fighter Had Just 1 Mission

National Security Journal ^ | 7/22/2025 | Steve Balestrieri

[whyilovetexas111]

The Boeing X-32, derided for its “ugly,” cartoonish appearance, was a formidable contender in the Joint Strike Fighter competition but ultimately lost to what became the F-35. Despite its superb handling qualities, which one test pilot compared to an F/A-18, the X-32’s downfall was its flawed and complex Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) design.

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TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: aviation; blogkaren; blogpimp; boeing; defense; flying; military; usairforce; usmilitary; x32

[whyilovetexas111]

I don't think its ugly, for the record.

[CivilWarBrewing]

That air intake, YIKES.

I'll take the X-36 ANY DAY:

[PGR88]

Despite its superb handling qualities, which one test pilot compared to an F/A-18, the X-32’s downfall was its flawed and complex Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) design.

Every single war ever has shown that "complex" is never an advantage on the battlefield.

But it seems weapons are often designed for success in Northern Virginia MIC board rooms or the halls of Congress.

[for-q-clinton]

They wanted a jack-of-all-trades master-of-none jet.

[3RIVRS]

The people who had to make the decision did

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

First time I saw this during the competition I knew it wouldn’t be chosen. It was just too damn stupid looking.

[Alas Babylon!]

No, not ugly. In fact, it looks happy!

[TangoLimaSierra]

It was just too damn stupid looking.

Well, like the man said, "You're taking it to war, not the prom".

[smokingfrog]

It looks like a supersonic bathtub.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

That air intake, YIKES.

The X-32 intake is not all that unusual. Been done many times.

F-86D intake.

F-8 intake.

A-7 intake.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

The front view reminds me of a whale shark swimming through the water while gulping tons of algae. ;-)

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

Oops! Plankton! I’m a dumb-ox! ;-)

[null and void]

That air intake, YIKES.

AKA, the Monica...

[null and void]

I think your A-7 and F-8 are bass ackwards.

[TexasGator]

“I think your A-7 and F-8 are bass ackwards.”

The F-8 looks correct.

The “A-7” looks like an F-8?

[null and void]

The sign at the static display says “F-8 Crusader”...

[TexasGator]

“The sign at the static display says “F-8 Crusader”...”

AI nails them both as F-8’s.

[TexasGator]

We referred to them as “maneaters”.

[null and void]

The strakes on the landing one also say F-8, but it looks too short to be the elegant F-8, to my eye it looks like a stubby A-7.

[null and void]

Upon closer inspection I agree with the AI, the A-7 at that angle would show the aerial refueling probe.