The F-35 only became operational in July of 2015. It's still a new plane going through teething problems. A lot of the issues are being addressed in later var

The F-35 only became operational in July of 2015. It's still a new plane going through teething problems. A lot of the issues are being addressed in later variants. The latest blocks are vast improvements. That being said, I suspect the plane was designed to do too much. It doesn't surprise me that said teething problems are more than other aircraft designs, but this really should have been 3 different planes, or at least the F-35B should have been. But there really should be a separate stealthy plane dedicated to close air support that would not need to be as stealthy as the better stealth planes should have already achieved air superiority. I may also add that the F-15 itself received a lot of controversy when it was first released. It was seen as a poorer dog fighter and that it's "overpowered" radar was unnecessary, but it's gone on to be very successful in all its engagements. Then the same critics lost their shit when they made the strike eagle version.