A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II sits on the flight line during pre-Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation on Jan. 23, 2018, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The Polish government on Jan. 31, 2020, signed a deal to purchase 32 of the planes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaac Johnson)
Lucian K. Truscott IV, Salon: Even by Pentagon terms, this was a dud: The disastrous saga of the F-35
The military-industrial complex spent $2 trillion building a "flying Swiss Army knife." Now it's been shelved
Somehow the United States has managed to develop a fighter jet for all three services — the Air Force, Navy and Marines — that goes for $100 million apiece, ran up almost a half-trillion dollars in total development costs, will cost almost $2 trillion over the life of the plane, and yet it can't be flown safely.
How did this happen, you ask? Well, it's a long, complicated story, but basically it involves taking something that's supposed to do one thing and do it well, like take off from the ground and fly really fast, and adding stuff like being able to take off and land on an aircraft carrier or hover like a hummingbird.
That's why they call it the "flying Swiss Army knife." Have you ever tried to use one of the things? First of all, you can't find the knife blade, hidden as it is among scissors and screwdrivers and can openers and nose hair tweezers and nail files and pliers. The geniuses at the Pentagon decided they needed to replace the aging F-16 fighter, and everybody wanted in on it.
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WNU Editor: Problems with the F-35 have been known for a long time. The above is another summary on what is wrong with theis fighter jet.
2 comments:
The thing has been justifiably criticized it's entire life. And now we and purchasers will have to adjust to this things high cost of maintenance and hanger queen genetics.
What was the number rounds for it's 20MM "cannon"...122? That would be about two passes then home? Three? I'm sure the troops will love it...fewer sleep disruptions?
The designers of this machine are missing something.
It's not a Swiss army knife. It's a Swiss army knife BY COMMITTEE.There's a difference. We trash-canned the Sea Wolf. We trash-canned the F-22. That was followed by the LCS and the Ford class. Good thing we didn't trash-can the F-15/16/18 and the A-10 (yet). We need to trash-can our military leadership and start over from scratch, but that won't happen. Get used to disappointment.
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