Quote:While I agree, the F-22 is a great fighter, it also had hiccups when first rolled out. It still battles software integration issues. Saying the F-35 is not ready is simply not true. It met IOC certification last year. Is it perfect, no. But you try ordering a car and then changing the options every week! Much like the F-22, it is going through some software bugs. The differences in that the F-35 is way more advanced electronically than the F-22. In fact, even with some integration issues, the F-35 clobbered the enemy in this past Red Flag. Its best feature is the ability to not only counter but to direct the battlefield from a safe distance linking with gen 4 aircraft, as well as naval systems.

 

I won't argue that the F-35 isn't a technical marvel, but it was pushed out way too quickly and designed completely wrong.  While it does incorporate the latest technology, none of it was ever tested properly and the code that runs it is still full of bugs.  That's the primary reason for such a high cost and the cost overruns.

 

The biggest downfall of the concept of the F-35 is that it was supposed to serve the three main branches of the military.  The thing is, each branch has different requirements.  As a simple example, the Navy requires it to be able to work at sea.  As a side note to this, the Marine Corps (actually part of the Navy) required STOL (Short Takeoff Landing) ability, essentially to act like a Harrier.  The Air Force required other specifications.  The Army required it to provide close support to eventually replace the A-10.

 

The problem is, no one aircraft can perform and execute each mission reliably.  It might work well for the Air Force right now, but it won't last on a Navy ship.

 

The real mistake was ordering them to be built before it was fully tested to carry out the specifications that were required. In the long run, even though the F-22 was expensive, it was already in production.  Had the order been filled we wouldn't be as weak as we are now militarily.

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