several nations who understand the capabilities, the shortcomings, the problems, and the price of the F-35 much more deeply and extensively than you and every other person on this thread, and who understand the capabilities, lower prices, and availability of several alternatives to the F-35 have nevertheless chosen to buy the F-35. And are clearly doing so rather enthusiastically. That is a fact. Sorry if such facts offend you.
I am not offended by this at all. Several nations are locked in after the very enthusiastic presentations they received early on by the US DoD and L-M. They are locked in because as part of the sweetened sales package, they signed up for, they were given F-35 related work for their homeland companies they would not have received otherwise. Here is some enthusiasm from Israel:
Defense News quoted an official in the IDF General Staff as saying that:
“It’s unbelievable, first it was $40 million to $50 million, and then they [the IAF] told us $70 million to $80 million. Now, we’re looking at nearly three times that amount, and who’s to say it won’t continue to climb?”
The above statement is for their first 75 F-35s. Sounds like they are having the same credibility problem with their air force (IAF) we are having with ours.
Not to worry, though, the American taxpayers will make up the overrun to the Israelis...