Its not just the hardware and software, compare the Me 262 against the Mustang. It also comes down to Command and Control, morale and the "corporate culture" of the military. History is littered with the military ambitions of totalitarian regimes thinking that the decadent and "soft" Western cultures were finished. It doesn't matter how many Chinese made components are in the F35, its how it is integrated that is important. When the PRC develops technology that hasn't been stolen I will be concerned. I have spoken with a person who has written Defense White papers and he thinks the F35 is a great machine. I think he would know what he is talking about.
Last edited by Lookleft; 17th Jun 2019 at 07:15.
Reason: add extra