Abstracting from politics, establishment, and some paranoid issues the picture could be considered in the following way:
A "country X" has a fleet of about a hundred aircraft manufactured in early-mid 80's.
Many pilots that fly them are younger than this heavy metal. The planes undegone two modernizations, but further attempts to teach old dogs some completely new tricks seem to have little sense.
Some suggest to switch to a second hand stuff that is a little younger, but it's still second-hand and will just postpone the problem adding a lot of chaos related to such an additional interim switch.
Thus, the idea of a radical solution by buying a new brand aircraft appears to have no reasonable alternative. And F-35 is the newest brand.
Then comes politics and pseudo-finance and try to bury common sense.
Last edited by A_Van; 15th Feb 2017 at 09:57.