Largely criticized for its delays and budget issues, the F-35 is starting to earn its keep.
Israel introduced its newest F-35 fighters on Tuesday to celebrate the 69th anniversary of their independence. The fighters flew over Tel Aviv alongside other advanced American planes like the F-16. They eventually plan to have 50 planes to ensure their dominance in a tumultuous region with aggressive actors on every side. But the use of the plane brings up the same debate about the plane’s effectiveness over its cost.
Israel’s use of the planes shows some modest success for the program. Along with Britain, Israel will be one of the first foreign countries to field a squadron. This will make cancelling the program incredibly difficult, as several foreign militaries depend on shipments of these planes. Much of the cost comes up-front in the development phase, so the more F-35s that are produced and sold, the lower the overall cost of each plane.
The introduction of the plane in Israel didn’t come without criticism. The first F-35s were delayed in Italy because of fog, which led to widespread ridicule. One person remarked that Israel must only fight on sunny days. But military leaders pointed out that it was a civilian safety regulation in consideration of other planes that grounded them.
American critics insist the program should be discontinued. The plane is over budget and behind schedule with numerous technical difficulties. It famously failed in dog fight contests with much older and cheaper planes, and it has a limited payload and range. But when the system finally came online last year, it displayed awe-inspiring capabilities. The helmet filters and displays massive amounts of information, which gives the pilot a far better command of key information. Its extended range sensors can target challenges “beyond the horizon,” obviating much of the need for dogfighting capabilities.
It can also be paired with a plane like the F-22, which excels in air superiority missions. The sensors on the F-35 have been networked with destroyers to enhance anti-missile defense. This is especially important in East Asia because China is developing faster, supersonic “carrier killing” missiles. Their range is still comparatively limited, but the F-35s have been networked with older fighters. This allows them to essentially act as a high-tech quarterback that can direct the additional payloads from those older fighters and extend its effective range using those additional missiles.
Like most government projects, this project has been costly and time-consuming. But it would be unwise to cancel the program when it is finally starting to bear fruit. The Israelis only received the first of what is planned to be 50 planes, and the machine’s capabilities promise to ensure air superiority of countries that field them for the next 20 years.
