Ten Signs The F-35 Fighter Program Is Becoming A Smashing Success (From Forbes)

It seems the Pentagon’s biggest weapons program is incapable of generating favorable media coverage.  Reporters play up every problem (real or imagined) with the F-35 fighter, while largely ignoring the positives.  But there are now so many positives that the program’s progress is getting hard to ignore.  Over two-thirds of flight tests have been completed with no major issues.  The Marine variant of the plane is about to become operational.  Initial sea trials of the Navy variant were spectacularly successful.  Life-cycle cost estimates are falling fast, as is the per-plane cost of production.  More allies are joining the program.  And the political system has closed ranks behind the F-35.  If this is a “troubled” program as some news accounts contend, perhaps it would be beneficial to stir up similar trouble in other Pentagon programs.  I have written a commentary for Forbes here.