One of the cursed blessings of the F-35B Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) requirement, the spec that created made Fat Amy fat. Without the VTOL configuration, the extra internal volume is used for additional fuel, creating single engine jet with almost as much internal fuel as a Sukhoi Su-27. In the 21st century, long loiter time and sensors are what make an aerial platform, and for this the F-35 did achieve something, by being the smallest possible airframe to fit a large radar and fuel tank.

The pointlessness of the 35B, can’t even do supersonic for more than one minute without burning off its RAM coating and damaging the airframe. I’m not sure that vulnerability is still around, they’ve changed the RAM several times.

The basket of Soviet technology developed for the Russian Yak-141 (first flight was 1987) made its way to the X-35 and later the F-35 Lightning II. The greatest difference, of course, being the F-35’s lift-fan configuration taking the place of the Yak’s lift jets.The lift technology is essentially over fifty years old.

And just so you know:

The F-35 program is projected to last until the 2080s, and sustainment accounts for a vast portion of its nearly $2 trillion lifecycle cost estimate. Improving the jet’s mission capable rates is a leading focus for the program, as previous government watchdog reports have found that readiness hampered by a lack of depot capacity, shortages of spare parts and insufficient access for military maintainers to the jet’s technical data. 

More than 1,000 F-35s have been delivered to date. But over the last two years, many newly delivered jets have been held for training as officials struggle to clear a new upgrade for combat.

2080s!

Imagine using WWII aircraft until the 21st century. The insanity of the Pentagon is matched only by the fraud, waste and abuse that is its primary marker for existence.

Pentagon, Lockheed weigh multi-year F-35 production, sustainment deal