For DU'ers who know this stuff, what are the advantages of the F-35 over the F-22,

[Happy Hoosier]

56. Your opinion, of course, but consider....

The F-35 is actually pretty well suited for targeted strikes in defended areas because the majority of the time, the opponent will not even know it's there until too late. And even when they catch glimpses of it, it is difficult to establish and maintain a lock on it.

So I'd argue it's better suited to the kind of limited engagements we are more likely to see as opposed to a full-on war.

I won't necessarily disagree on the cost. Although we, as the public, do benefit from military technology development, I would rather see that kind of development come out of NASA. I say that as someone who has worked as a D0D R&D engineer my whole career. I'd much rather be working a Mars mission. But there is way less money in it and a lot fewer jobs.