F-35s Worth the Hype After All?

After more than its share of trials and tribulations, the F-35 fighter jet is now the envy of the world’s armed forces, says Real Clear Defense:

This week’s performance by the F-35 fighter at the Paris Air Show is a turning point for the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter, demonstrating that even when fully loaded with combat gear, it can out-perform the tactical aircraft of every other country. […]

If you are searching for a metaphor that captures what F-35 delivers to America’s military, consider the example of two prize fighters. The next-generation contender has a stronger punch, a longer reach, and superior situational awareness. But he also has something else that transforms the fight—he is invisible to his adversary. Whatever the other fellow’s training might be, he can’t see his rival to land a punch. So he’s down before the first round is over. That’s what makes the F-35 a game-changing aircraft, the one plane that can keep America’s enemies at bay for another generation.

This praise is hard-earned and bodes well for the ability of the United States and its allies to maintain a technical superiority in fighting capacity. Looking past the issue of cost overruns, Real Clear Defense shows that the F-35 has proven to be a resounding success story on all the key metrics. The plane has not once failed to outmaneuver its rivals in head-to-head showcases like the one that occurred last week, it possesses advanced sensor fusion and networked operations features that have been carefully refined over 16 years of development, and the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force each have adopted versions of the new aircraft that will upgrade their capabilities dramatically. (One variant, for example, has consistently achieved a kill ratio above 20-to-1 in exercises, and sea trials indicate that the carrier-based variant has “demonstrated exceptional performance” in all theatres where it has been tested.

At a broader level, the development of the F-35 indicates the continued resolve of the United States to carry out lengthy, resource-intensive projects intended to shore up its unmatched military might. Critics, including President Trump, have long cast aspersions on the program for its delays and costs, but those problems are now largely in the past. Demand for the fighters remains high even as their cost is stabilizing, and they have already been deployed to Japan as well as Europe. The F-35 will also be an important addition to America’s aerospace export sector for years to come as more countries are approved to purchase it.

Once again, the United States proves it has the will, know-how, and tenacity not to fight fair.

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