Since the F-35 program began in the 1990s, it has cast a large shadow over the world fighter market and the manufacturers that play there. Designed to be the first fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft, the F-35 is meant to leverage the advantages of the U.S. as a combat aircraft producer, with an emphasis on low costs, volume, shared doctrine, and a global supply chain. In recent years the program has come under attack, with concerns about defense budgets, the plane's price tag, and even its performance. But a series of pro-F-35 announcements by key customers has reinforced the program and helped solidify its long-term position on the market.
展开▼
