4 ms·

On the other hand (also posted today): https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/02/24/israeli_air_force_could_soon_have_more_f-35_fighters_661588.html htt

On the other hand (also posted today): https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/02/24/israeli_air_force_could_soon_have_more_f-35_fighters_661588.html https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/02/24/israeli... So, Israel flies lots of pilot hours and seems to think that the plane is a good deal. The F-35 failed in its original goal of being lightweight, but is perhaps fine in the new goal of being a modern fancy fighter that dominate the sky. In which case, it has pivoted to become a success. To extend their analogy, if you live near the Autobahn you would use your Ferrari daily?

greedo 6y ago
It's hard to use Israel's purchase of the F-35 as proof that it's an excellent plant. I think it probably is, but FMS sales are hard to decipher; we give military aid to countries via FMS, but require that money to be spent on US produced equipment. We decided not to export the F-22 (which Israel would have definitely purchased), and the F-16 is a bit long in the tooth. So for their specific needs (stealth fighter-bomber) it might have been the best choice. And Israel negotiated a wide latitude of privileges that allows them to extensively modify the Adir. Plus I don't think being "lightweight" was a goal of the JSF (or its predecessor JAST) program. Being more affordable than the F-22? Definitely.