The Five Most Important Facts About The F-35 Fighter (From Forbes)

A quarter-century after the Clinton administration first conceived the “joint strike fighter,” it has turned into a smashing success. Hundreds are in operation with ten air forces around the world, with many, many more to come. But that doesn’t mean everybody in the Biden administration understands why the F-35, as it is now called, is so important to the joint force. If we strip away all the program details, the essence of the story comes down to this: it is the most survivable combat aircraft ever built, and the most versatile; the cost to build and operate it is steadily declining; a majority of America’s most important allies have signed on to the program; and it is a boon to the thousands of communities where suppliers are located. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.