Joking aside it really does look like those involved at any level with the F-35 programme have been left (the Americans and us as well) up a Gum Tree. The entire rationale behind the F-35 has long been dismissed, in terms of economy, and in our own case, role, intended use and what it was to replace. None of what was planned has panned out as planned. The original aim for a cost effective replacement for existing airframes has gone way by the board, ironically becoming hideously espensive and growing.
As someone posted in response to a question of mine earlier, its no longer, in respect of U.K. requirements, simply required to replace the Sea Harrier/Harrier. Its much fewer and much more costly numbers, are to replace the afore mentioned SHAR/HAR and the Tornado GR4. In this regard, we've stuck ourselves with the runt of the litter, all for the sake of VSTOL. Meanwhile, it has become, reportedly, the most expensive commercial project of all time. We're only going to get 48, at least that many albeit, which we know of, rather than the 138 originally planned just as a Harrier replacement, and the cost has spiralled as extraordinarily as the number of faults which keep getting sniped at by the media.
FB
