They won't can the F-35. But, is it obsolete already?
Can you give generation 5/6 tech, engines, thrust vectoring,.... to new F-15/16/18's and do the same? Take all that R&D from the F-22 and F-35 and put it into something affordable and proven capability.
They've built over 600 F-35's already. The question is, will they continue building the ~2000 more? Or, is it time to put the money elsewhere?
Yes, they needed 500+ F-22's and didn't get them. And, the F-23 should've been built in the 500+ range. And, the X-32 should've been built too in that range too.
2000-3000 F-35's is a boondoggle. 600 is a decent fleet size to supplement the other F and B's other there. Its time to move on!
All the funding into 1 fighter, hopefully mass produced into the thousands, regardless of the numerous variants and capabilities, turned into a funds failure.
We need to start a rapid upgrade program for the fleet. Look at the Block 60 F-16 for UAE, the F-16V, and the Indian F-21. But, we are broke.
Well, at least they bought some new F-15EX's and everybody forgot about the F-15SE.
Look what the Navy is doing with some of the newer ships. Do we get to sink 'em in target practice? sell them to other countries? or just recycle them?
The U.S Navy's first four littoral combat ships are headed to the mothball fleet.
www.defensenews.com
Sea Shadow (IX-529) was built and tested on a submersible ship called Hughes Mining Barge (HMB-1). It was a joint venture of DARPA, the US Navy...
www.ststworld.com
Maybe the US Airforce should be some Eurofighter Typhoons, JAS39 Gripens, or Dassault Raffales to supplement the aging fleet. They wouldn't cost too much!