I’m probably in the minority here, but I’m going to get out and front and say the F-35 is going to be a much more potent and effective platform than anyone seems to be willing to believe at this stage.
Yes, it has been far more expensive than was originally envisioned — but that is scarcely the first time that has happened. Yes, they are still working out bugs — but nobody wants to talk about how many of those were caused by changing service requirements. Yes, it has taken longer to get into the field than anyone ever contemplated — but the same two answers apply.
But it is in the field, in limited numbers, our allies are taking delivery on birds now, and the USS Wasp has a squadron of B variants onboard and operating.
But you know the real kicker? The real reason I am reasonably confident that the F-35 will be an extremely effective airplane? It’s because the Japanese Self Defense Forces are staying with the program. They didn’t have to. There was a serious push several years ago to drop the Lightning in favor of the F-15SE, which would have been much cheaper, far easier to integrate into the current JASDF, and available much sooner.
Japan does not have the luxury of buying an aircraft that they do not think will work. China is an immediate, clear, and dangerous threat. If they are staying with the F-35 it’s because they think it is the most effective platform available.
“I’m probably in the minority here, but I’m going to get out and front and say the F-35 is going to be a much more potent and effective platform than anyone seems to be willing to believe at this stage”.
It already is.
From a standoff distance it can take out the F-22.
It just hasn’t met all contracted specs yet.