I notice that pundits and detractors of the F35 like to omit some key facts about the program when using the $1T figure about the cost...
Thousands of aircraft and 60+ years (lifespan)...
So I'll posit this...
The F117 program was considered one of the most successful procurement programs in USAF history.
But it was done in complete secrecy.
The concept demonstrators both crashed...
The F117 had a rudder design issue, almost lost an aircraft when one rudder departed in flight...
Stability issues with the undersized rudders caused serious handling problems, new rudders were designed...
Lost a few aircraft and pilots in the early phases of the program...
Some aircraft suffered serious damage due to mishaps...
And yet, the program was NOT cancelled. We worked through the problems and fixed them.
Yet, the F35, with the exception of the engine rub issue (P&W design failure) that cost us an airframe over 2 years ago (I guess that's "recent"), has not had the problems the F117 had.
Deficiencies in design are expected to be uncovered during flight testing. It's why they're tested.
But, by, all accounts, the F35 is "a piece of $hit" and needs to be cancelled.
In closing, the F35 is not a purebred "fighter"...it's a STRIKE aircraft with capabilities that far exceed the F22 and legacy fighters that have been pressed into service as strike aircraft.
It's an F117 replacement that is not a one trick pony like the F117. But some folks just can't get that through their heads or are duplicitously ignoring these facts in order to constantly and consistently malign the aircraft.
SMH...