“A zillion-dollar aircraft kind-of beats one designed in 1974! Who’d a thunk it?”
Worth checking. I’m sure the F-35 was designed prior to 1988 because it was already in production; it may have been designed as early as the ‘70’s.
F-16 went into production in 1976. It’s design was early and mid-70s.
The JSF contract was bid in 1995. The subsequent build contract was awarded ion 2001. The F-35 first flight was in December of 2006