We're about to see the full ramifications of the SUPER EXPENSIVE F-35 on the defense budget soon.
It occurs to me that one airplane will determine the success of our armed forces and our place in the world for the foreseeable future.
Consider this.
* The US Army is having to cut Brigades, reorganize its aviation and shed personnel to a rate that their Chief is now stating publicly that its dangerous.
* The USMC is cutting Battalions, shedding squadrons and having to make adhoc units just to justify this airplane while at the same time delaying the production of a much needed replacement for the AAV.
* The US Navy is considering cutting aircraft carriers, is definitely cutting squadrons and is in ship building pain because this plane is being forced on them.
* The USAF is cutting squadrons, canceling upgrades to legacy fighters, tossing away its premier air support airplane and essentially betting its future on an airplane that is not a good fighter, is a mediocre (at best) close air support platform, is insanely expensive all in the belief that its poor stealth and information dominance will carry the day against airplanes that are faster, fly higher, have bigger AESA arrays, fly farther and essentially get the same information just through different means.
These bastards better be right or we're screwed for a generation.
Lockheed Martin shares, promises of jobs after they retire and that big golden parachute that they're hoping for better be worth the price they're gonna pay if they're wrong.
If they're wrong and I think they are, they'll feel lucky to only be cursed, vilified and called traitors.
