Planned obsolescence: F-35 upgrades are on the way.
Any person who has bought the latest and greatest technological gadget knows the pain. The sheer joy of showing off that slick new piece of kit turns to frustration when its successor is announced . The F-35 Lightning II is still months away from its IOC, yet the USAF is already looking into future upgrades . Not just minor upgrades, like additional weapons, but major upgrades like radar and engines. Considering the massive amount of PR stating that the F-35 is the most "advanced fighter in the world", one might start to question why the USAF is already planning on the current model becoming obsolete. The JSF has been criticized for its flaws. It is seen as too heavy, too slow, too expensive, and not that much better than legacy F-16s and F/A-18s it is destined to replace. It is reasonable to assume that the addition of a new, more powerful engine, improved avionics, and even laser weapons would make it more palatable to its critics. ...