There's definitely a distortion field around the F-35 both from the positive perspective and the negative. As most of us are laymen who've never flown the plane, it's hard to know which viewpoint is definitive.

Sentiment has definitely shifted towards the positive viewpoint though.

However, the negative viewpoint is not unrealistic. The US can strong arm other countries into buying their crap with bribes and other under the cover dealings. Heck why do you think TSMC is opening a fab in Arizona? Because it's a profitable move? No way.

I guy I grew up with is a flight instructor for the F-35. He claims (publicly) it's a total game changer compared to the F-16's he used to fly before.

In exercises such as Red Flag, it dominates anything 4th gen.

"Stealth" is not only about being hard to detect. It's just as much about making it difficult for enemy missiles to get a lock and keep it until they score a hit.

Also, the softer (or software) elements of the F-35 is a huge part of it. Sensor Fusion makes it a lot easier to know what to do next.

As I see it, the budget and schedule overruns are not functional faults in the airplane itself, but in the program that produces and maintains it. As such, it is not in the scope of a tender process for procuring such planes outside the US.

Are you kidding with these source? Perhaps next you will go to Greenpeace for their opinion on the F-35?

Both of these are groups which exist to oppose any kind of military spending, neither of them have any relevant expertise.

Responsible statecraft is a well known foreign actor site that's paid to produce anti-American propaganda.

F-35 is quite cheap now.

LMAO.That's quite the claim. Since it's so "well known", I suggest you provide a shred of evidence.

"Quite cheap now." After we already wasted trillions on it.

Still waiting...

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/about/