Mattis Backs F-35 Stealth Fighter Criticized by Trump | DoD Buzz

Why would he take any other stance? We are committed and invested both in resources and time. We are going to fall behind the power curve if we continue to expect aging aircraft to rule the skies. I love the F18, A10, AV8B, and am still a fan of the retired F14 ... point being you can ony integrate so much new technology into old platforms. Can we still put "warheads on foreheads" with our current aircraft? Damned right ... but as the maintenance costs pile, mishaps continue, and China continues to push the envelope now is not the time to reset the clock.

I'm on a combat deployment right now ... and I promise you i would welcome an advanced VTOL aircraft with stealth capabilities ... especially one that could tap into the AEGIS systems on our DDGs ... Id love to expand our "over the horizon" capabilities.

Silly me but the day prior to 9/11 Donald Rumsfeld kindly and bravely reported 2.3 Trillion dollars was missing, unaccounted for on the DOD's bookkeeping/accounting ledger, fiscal records. Perhaps/maybe that mystery disappearing act, lump sum, 1% of it could have been allocated (used) to assure the USA, DOD, military personnel have the best possible aircraft to win thias never ending war on/against the Islamic extremist jihad terrorists. Thanks for your "kind of makes sense". Respectfully, Kate

He hasn't gotten the word yet that Trump opposed the F-35. Give him time to get the word and come around..