I’m actually beginning to wonder if the F-35 will ever be deployed in significant numbers.
I’m not confident it is a sound aircraft. I’m not confident it’s capabilities are advanced enough for it to become the be all end all aircraft.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see a new generation of remote aircraft replace it before it becomes fully operational.
I suspect it will become operational, but in paltry numbers.
I admit I haven’t followed the program closely. I may be wrong as can be. I believe a few have been delivered.
It seems like the full deployment as been just over the horizon for a long time.
“I’m actually beginning to wonder if the F-35 will ever be deployed in significant numbers.”
The F-22 was stopped. Can’t imagine many F-35’s will ever fly. Don’t think we’ll ever again build a manned fighter in volume. Small drones, that’s another story.
F22 is a good machine. Pity.
Are you basing your “confidences” on an informed position or one from the media and your own prejudices?
Just curious...
Remember, this aircraft is not designed or intended to be an air superiority fighter.
It's a multi-role fighter-bomber designed to replace the F-16.
Then the geniuses at the Pentagon decided it should also replace the FA-18 in the Navy and Marines and drove up the cost and complexity exponentially.
For it's intended purpose, the conventional aircraft is a great asset...but over-priced. It'll experience a production reduction as a result.
And we'll see clusered drones fill the void.
At 1/4 the price, or less.
Controlled by F-35s.