The F-35 Is Now The Frankenstein Stealth Fighter

[rangerrebew]

The F-35 Is Now The Frankenstein Stealth Fighter
 
© A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft flies during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 28, 2025. The F-35 is designed to provide the pilot with unsurpassed situational awareness, positive target identification and precision strike in all weather conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)
Key Points and Summary - In a historic pivot, the Pentagon is reportedly halving its planned purchase of F-35 stealth fighters, signaling a significant shift in U.S. airpower strategy.

-This analysis argues the move is a long-overdue break from a history of bad procurement choices, like rejecting the superior YF-23.
 
-Many would argue the F-35 is a vulnerable "procurement Frankenstein," unsuited for a future war with China or Russia.

-By shifting investment to the 6th-generation F-47 (NGAD), the Air Force is finally treating the F-35 as a temporary bridge, not the final destination, and prioritizing a platform truly designed for future conflict.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-f-35-is-now-the-frankenstein-stealth-fighter/ar-AA1JrJ40?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=6887b45c8f074a99ae500f0c935e2744&ei=48

[DefiantMassRINO]

F-35 is a modern-day Spruce Goose.

[Timber Rattler]

F-35 is a modern-day Spruce Goose.

DoD didn't learn its lesson from McNamara's TFX program...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFX_Program

[Smokin Joe]

By shifting investment to the 6th-generation F-47 (NGAD), the Air Force is finally treating the F-35 as a temporary bridge, not the final destination, and prioritizing a platform truly designed for future conflict.

There is no "final destination". Weapons development will continue.
At some point you have to pick a horse and ride it. Maybe the F-35 isn't that horse, but ships are being designed to use a variant as their air wing, and I'm not talking full sized carriers, but "Light Carriers and Amphibious Assault Ships--and not just ours. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2021/march/pocket-air-power-us-allies-lead-charge-21st-century-light-carriers
Ours include the following classes of vessels:

Amphibious Assault Ship Classes:

    Wasp-class (LHD): These ships are designed to carry a mix of aircraft, including F-35B STOVL aircraft, MV-22 Ospreys, and various helicopters.

America-class (LHA): Similar to the Wasp-class, they can operate a diverse air wing, including F-35Bs, helicopters, and MV-22s.
 
Tarawa-class (LHA): These older ships have been largely replaced by the America-class.

The Harriers are out...The F-35B is the replacement.
And the Air Force is trying to get rid of the A-10, not that they'd be involved at the onset of an amphibious operation (not until airfields are available).

Where is Marine air support going to come from?

[Timber Rattler]

At some point you have to pick a horse and ride it.

That's the USAF's big problem right now...Congress and DoD really screwed up in pushing the F-35 over the F-22.

Where is Marine air support going to come from?

Supposedly that U.S. Navy's job BUT that didn't work out so well during World War II so the USMC demanded and got its own air wings.  But then Commandant Berger came along and decided that the USMC should just go back to being a Navy security force, and stripped away all of that, as well as the Corps' tanks, artillery, and helicopters.

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/07/21/david-bergers-journey-from-navy-rotc-to-boldest-marine-commandant/

Retired Lt. Gen. Paul Van Riper, a vocal member of the group of retired Marines opposing Force Design, said he was unsure how many retired generals were active in the self-titled “Chowder II” because there was no roster, but he said the number was “certainly in the hundreds.”

“Those of us who identify as members of Chowder Society II are looking forward towards a new Marine Corps and not at a commandant who in four years destroyed the Corps it took some 30 years to build,” Van Riper said via email.

“We want to support the 39th commandant when he takes the helm and work to get the Corps back on track,” he said.

And when Van Riper talks, people should listen...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Challenge_2002

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wartech/nature.html

[txradioguy]

Where is Marine air support going to come from?

The Marine support will fly from the decks of those America class amphibs.  They're referred to as "pocket carriers" because of the amount of aircraft they can carry.  They also have no well deck and a smaller sick bay to allow for larger aircraft facilities to support.  They're using the F-35B STOVL jets which are the replacements for the Harriers.