However all this is still not an excuse of what is currently happening with the JSF (or for any other platform), it boils down to a systemic fault that exist in the client-supplier relationship that exists between the industry and the client/nations involved.
With the F35 however whe're once more entering new unchartered territories whereby we are now left with 1 supplier who completely monopolized the market combined with ,what is perceived by most ill informed but decision making, politicians that believe that the F35 is the only option if you want to buy a next generation fighter that can do the job for the next 3 decades.
You hit the nail on the head :
- no competition leading to a status of monopoly;
- politicians are less ill informed than defending industry lobbyists.;
- funny how in the land of free market, the US allow one company to monopolize the market of military jets and another one the market of civvy jets...
Hence I don't see IMHO a good ending to this F35 thing... Hope I am wrong otherwise there is going to be a lot of people with massive capabilities issues starting with my "rosbiff" friends.