I mean they can be riddled with bugs and the best aircraft available. Chinas always going to lean in on raw numbers. Their aircraft are not superior, nor are their pilots who are always causing international incidents. The problem is the insane amount of resources that went into it and the fact that it really doesn’t have an adversary. There’s no telling if it will remain relevant for long enough to pay back the investment. For me it’s more of a “we needed a super jet like we needed a war in Iraq” vibe. No question its better than the Chinese equivalent (which there is none)
Comment on 'It's Possible to jailbreak F-35 like iPhone', Says Dutch State Secretary of Defense Tuinman
mlg@lemmy.world 4 days agoI’m still waiting for them to use the F-35 against an actual competent adversary with an actual airforce, but I think the only possibility would be China.
Maybe Pakistan if India buys the F-35, but even they know its a Lockheed money scam.
TronBronson@lemmy.world 3 days ago
suitmangray@lemmy.world 3 days ago
The goal of the F-35 is to keep the lead in aircraft technology development. China can clone all the designs they want and build as many planes as they want but will need more then waves of planes to project power on the level of the United States.
TronBronson@lemmy.world 2 days ago
The goal for the F-35 was to create jobs and taxable revenue. Projecting power indeed. Manipulating other countries to “keep up with mil tech” even tho we all know our adversaries are 20 years behind. Maybe investing in schools or diplomacy could have created greater returns for the American public
Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 3 days ago
I mean, there’s Russia.
And don’t get me wrong, I don’t really want to call them competent, but their planes are modern. And for Christ sake, we should be squaring off with them in Ukraine.