The F-35

[Minimalist]

In other words, why not just stick with what we already know works well?

Because no one listened to Eisenhower.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

[Tonus]

What a fucking boondoggle this thing is!

http://www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/ar...ck_check=1

The $392 billion program is seven years behind schedule. The military has not allowed the fleet to fly at full throttle. Or within 25 miles of lightning. Or with weapons.

Simply put, the plane that the military calls its Joint Strike Fighter isn’t cleared to fight — and it’s hundreds of millions of dollars over budget.

It's the official plane of the Sochi Olympics!

[Jackalope]

America has superior numbers against China?

China lacks the ability to effectively project air power compared to the United States. Over land controlled by the PRC, the matter is debatable.

Elsewhere, considering that the PRC has a single operational aircraft carrier to the United States' 10, there is no contest.

[Angrboda]

[Cato]

60 Minutes is airing a segment on this story tonight.

[Ryantology]

The money wasted on this program could have paid for $50,000 worth of college education for 7.8 million people, or 1.36 billion months worth of $300 SNAP benefits, among many other enormously more important things.

[Jackalope]

The money wasted on this program could have paid for $50,000 worth of college education for 7.8 million people, or 1.36 billion months worth of $300 SNAP benefits, among many other enormously more important things.

Indeed. The amount of money we spend on defense overall can reasonably be reduced a huge amount. We can certainly bomb the fuck out of fewer people - or none at all.

[Minimalist]

Of course we all know the republicunts would merely cut taxes on the rich. They ain't giving the poor or middle class shit if they can help it.

[Zen Badger]

The problem with the F-35 and program's like it is that while governments are funding development there is no incentive to go to production.

In the old days, when the military wanted a new fighter they would put out a contract for tender and interested companies would put forward prototypes at their own cost.

The winning fighter would be selected for production and the company would make money from the machines they built.

Nowadays, the aircraft companies can drag out development for years while the government just keeps pouring money in.

The other thing to consider is the limited production runs of modern fighters.
They cost so fucking much that only a few can be bought whereas in the old days thousands would be built.
Think about the F-22, just 200 airframes were built. That would barely cover the cost of tooling up for the damn things. So there won't be much money in producing the things.
No, the real money is now in development.

[Minimalist]

These pilots are not strafing a column at tree top level these days. They are firing a missile from miles away. Whether or not there is a man in the cockpit is not going to make much of a difference in target selection.

Ah, this is true, but target selection is still the issue. We have small(ish) UAVs for drone strikes now. No one is going to sign off on the billions of dollars of dev money for just bigger drones with more payload. What is proposed is fully autonomous (with the exception of possibly target acquisition) aircraft. But why, when there are plenty of red blooded boys (and girls) lining up willingly and with the advent of new avionics
and continued air superiority relatively safely flying more than capable aircraft now?

And also, there are plenty of aircraft/pilots strafing individual targets with 20mm depleted uranium rounds from close range to this day. There were some videos leaked by Snowden et al. that show this first hand.

Glad you mentioned DU ammo. The 30mm shells for the A-10 were effective but the A-10 is being retired. The Bradley AFV uses DU ammo but there have been serious investigations of the impact of DU regarding Gulf War syndrome. Probably be a good idea to get rid of that shit. Although as was demonstrated with Agent Orange, the Pentagon has no problem poisoning the grunts.