Also, the F-35 has its operational limitations.
I can’t judge the relative merits and costs, but “sunk” costs on F-35 development are already “sunk”..... i.e., going forward the entire comparison should be analyzing costs vs. capabilities for all new development and production.
It makes no sense to me for the Navy/Congress to turn against the F-35 program based upon anything spent to date (I know, that’s not necessarily how politics works)...... do a whole new set of comparisons based upon what we have to spend going forward for each option. Seems like just about every new gen. program has loads of cost over-runs in development, but once we’ve already “spent” that money it should not be a reason to cancel a program (any weapon) if the cost/capabilities comparison for the future makes good sense....... but what do I know? :^)
Also, the F-35 has its operational limitations.