A lot of the problem seems to be the way they develop all new combat aircraft. Used to be they had ‘X’ versions of test aircraft for test, ‘Y’ versions were pre-production models. And after all that they’re would be the operational production models. Now we try to design, build & produce all in parallel. Practically guarantees that the aircraft will be fielded no matter what.
Used to be that each new plane design was designed for one role, like the F-22. Now everybody has their role incorporated into a single design guaranteeing the plane will do none well and now perhaps none at all.