US embassador to Canada threatens Canadian sovereignty and declares our airsapace null and void if we don't by F35s.

@jshm2 Actually it is lower. Apparently the current mission capable percentage for the USAF is 30%. It has the worst readiness record of any aircraft and is the most expensive fighter ever.


And the USAF has more money that god to waste.


The F35 was a dud long before the pissing contest with China.

As far back as 1996 ABC news published a report that the DOD determined in 1996 that the F22 and F35 were obsolete but would go into production anyway.


They were sold as planes with Romulan cloaking devices from Star Trek when they were designed to defeat 1980s soviet radar.

It has become a corporate welfare scam for Lockheed and since they have total control of maintenance and parts they have taken the idiotic approach of implementing "just in time delivery" for maintenance of frontline fighters.


The problem is the only tool of coercion the Americans have left is a sledgehammer.

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow …yes, I had heard a figure closer to 30% than 50…

But the points @jshm2 made stand.

@Bumbles Yep. And even Poland put their F16s in secondary service and went back to their Mig 29s because they could not afford the maintenance of the F16. Based on that it is matter of time before the F35 fleet is grounded and they fall back on their FA 50s from South Korea.

If they could not afford to maintain the F16 there is no way they will be able to afford the F35 long term.

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Seriously…those new F 15 Eagle 2s are pretty cool, though. And I’m surprised F 16s are that expensive to maintain as they only have one engine.

@Bumbles Yeah. Apparently the F16 is only an "affordable" jet if you have economies of scale. They are a money sink for smaller countries.

I expect the F35 will be 10 times worse.