You have good points here. However, I think there is some economic utility to the very idea that the United States, and US companies are behind the design and b

You have good points here. However, I think there is some economic utility to the very idea that the United States, and US companies are behind the design and build of the strongest air powered aircraft in this moment. I say this without knowing what the evolving military threat might be or whether a fighter jet can counter it. The F35 is a recruiting tool, not only to the armed services, but to the very nationalism that is used to persuade people to keep working toward an "American" dream. I'm not saying this to portray these in a sparkling light, but because I think they are real "benefits" of the $406B that my be hard to measure. I have my own pet causes and beneficiaries I'd direct even a fraction of those expenses but they would not make very good HD videos.