You have a good point. And Boeing lost the contract at the start of the program for a lot of good reasons.
That being said, one would think the F-35 would be slightly more functional by now. Perhaps the world isn't meant to have functional stealth multi-role aircraft.
The theory is that Boeing and LM struck a deal, where in Boeing would acquire the technology from DARPA (and private sector) so as to "compete" in the JSF program, which they would purposely lose to LM (apparently the X-32 still turned out better than the X-35 anyway) through the creation of a fugly aircraft which the DoD would have no interest in procuring.
Boeing would then go on its merry way applying the newly acquired technological know-how onto its fledgling drone programs... which actually didn't end up getting very far. That's the rumor anyway...
I actually have no clue how you would progress out of the F-35 debacle now, especially given it has been sold to numerous air forces around the world. Some of its features are pretty extraordinary, like data-linking with AEGIS and firing SM-6 missiles off its on-board radar... but in a real combat environment against a first world opponent? (which is what it is supposed to do, remember) I have serious doubts.
F-15 is the best way to go, while reactivating the F-22 program, who's faults could maybe be ironed out.
although I love aircraft I will admit I'm not that knowledgeable about them, anyone want to give there opinion on the f-18 as a replacement?
F-18 is something different.
After all the hate we had for F-35 and billions of dollars spent on it, you are going to give up? It doesn't make sense to cancel it now.
You have a good point. And Boeing lost the contract at the start of the program for a lot of good reasons.
That being said, one would think the F-35 would be slightly more functional by now. Perhaps the world isn't meant to have functional stealth multi-role aircraft.
What about the F-15SE ? F-15 is a good airframe really and it was proven.
The theory is that Boeing and LM struck a deal, where in Boeing would acquire the technology from DARPA (and private sector) so as to "compete" in the JSF program, which they would purposely lose to LM (apparently the X-32 still turned out better than the X-35 anyway) through the creation of a fugly aircraft which the DoD would have no interest in procuring.
Boeing would then go on its merry way applying the newly acquired technological know-how onto its fledgling drone programs... which actually didn't end up getting very far. That's the rumor anyway...
I actually have no clue how you would progress out of the F-35 debacle now, especially given it has been sold to numerous air forces around the world. Some of its features are pretty extraordinary, like data-linking with AEGIS and firing SM-6 missiles off its on-board radar... but in a real combat environment against a first world opponent? (which is what it is supposed to do, remember) I have serious doubts.
F-15 is the best way to go, while reactivating the F-22 program, who's faults could maybe be ironed out.