Final Flight of the F/A-18 Hornet (B-Roll)

The end of an era.

Just wondering out loud.

We got the F-16 and the F/A-18 from a time when the total focus was on affordable airplanes that could win aerial fights.  When first introduced the F-16 was not a ground attack platform.  The F/A-18 was sold as being dual purpose but when initially presented, it too was focused on being the "lower tier" of a hi-lo mix.

Today?

Today we have the F-35.  It was originally sold to us as a strike fighter, and as production/development has stretched its morphed into a multi-role platform.

Will it serve us well or will it go down in history as the biggest defense blunder of a generation that just couldn't get stuff right militarily?

Time will tell but I'm not hopeful.  Don't get it twisted.  The men and women serving this country in uniform have done what was asked and did it well.  The defense strategy, from the battlefield to procurement is what's come up short in my opinion.