The F-35 thread

The Hornet pilot summarizes my issues with the F-35.
 
The mission capable rate, which measures the percentage of time aircraft can perform at least one of their tasked missions, dropped from 67% in fiscal 2021 to 44% in fiscal 2025, GAO found.

The full mission capable rate, the share of time aircraft can perform all assigned missions, slid from 38% to 25% over the same period.

 
So Don is going to forgive Türkiye


US expected to send six F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, lift bans, following NATO summit - report​


The United States is expected to send Turkey six F-35 fighter jets as part of an initial transaction, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing Turkish officials familiar with the matter.

The deal would depend on US President Donald Trump reversing the ban on Ankara’s purchase of the latest generation of American fighter jets, the report noted.

Turkey originally planned to buy 40-odd F-35 jets before tensions between Ankara, the US, and key allies, such as Israel and Greece, led the Americans to block the transaction.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pushing for the deal to come through, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently warned against giving the weapon to the Turks.

Trump is expected to throw his support behind the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey during a visit to Ankara – Reuters and The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

When Trump was asked by reporters late last month if he would have any “gifts” for Turkey, he said: “I’m going to probably do something that will make them very happy.”

Speaking alongside Trump, US Vice President JD Vance said a review was underway to determine whether Turkey had complied with US laws to receive the F-35 fighter jets.

“[Secretary of Defense] Pete [Hegseth] and the entire team are reviewing this right now because there are certain things that we have to certify have happened... in order to comply with American law,” Vance said.
 
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