1. The basic concept, having an airframe that can be used by more than one service is good. The F-4 was used by both the air force and navy.
2. Is there a need? well the F-15, F-16 and F-18 were designed 40 years ago and are nearing the end of their useful life.
3. Does it have to use the latest cutting edge technology? Based on the F-15/16/18 experience, they will probably have to last 40 years. What will be the anti-air tech in 2050? What is more expensive? building it right from the beginning or having an expensive upgrade in 2030?
4. Is there a threat? These airplanes have a long lead time, Russia and China are both designing their own next generation plane. When, not if, but when the next crisis comes around, there wont be time to develop new planes.
5. should it be scrapped? trillions of dollars down the drain. Yes, there would be an immediate savings, but you still have the problem that the current generation of planes will be obsolete in 10 years.
6. Are manned airplanes obsolete? who knows? Drones can do some interesting things, can they do everything? If you want to fly an infantry division to the next crisis point with C-17s, are you really going to trust their protection to drones? How do you prevent the enemy from jamming the transmissions between the drone and the GCI?
7. do we need so many variants? That is probably where they could have saved some bucks.
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