Compass Points - Frankenstein?
When what seemed a good decision, turns bad.
Compass Points - Frankenstein?
When what seemed a good decision, turns bad.
July 28, 2025
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For nearly two decades, the multi-mission F35 Lightning II has been the focus of US military aviation. Various versions of the plane were produced, including the F35A for the Air Force, the F35B for the Marine Corps, and the F35C for the Navy. In addition, US allies were strong-armed into their own purchases of the F35.
Can one plane really be the single answer to so many missions across so many armed services?
Aviation expert Andrew Latham says no. He says, "the F-35 is a vulnerable 'procurement Frankenstein,' unsuited for a future war with China or Russia."
Latham reports that in a sudden and unexpected pivot, "the Pentagon is reportedly halving its planned purchase of F-35 stealth fighters, signaling a significant shift in U.S. airpower strategy."
The US Air Force is now saying the F-35 is not the long term answer they promised it was.
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By shifting investment to the 6th-generation F-47 (NGAD), the Air Force is finally treating the F-35 as a temporary bridge, not the final destination, and prioritizing a platform truly designed for future conflict.
. . . The Pentagon is now slashing the F-35 buy in half and subtly, but unmistakably, pivoting its focus and investment to the F-47, the flagship of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. For once, it seems the United States is not going to double down on a sunk cost or choose an inferior platform for all the wrong reasons.
. . . That shift matters. It signals that the Air Force may finally be choosing based not on flash, inertia, or political expedience, but on the unforgiving demands of future war.
By Andrew Latham
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Despite the F-35 and the plans for the F-47, the Navy stills favors continuing the F/A-18 Super Hornet, for a variety of missions including, air-to-air, air-to-ground, SEAD, maritime strike, and reconnaissance.
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The F/A-18 Super Hornet has proven to be a reliable, deadly, and adaptable platform for over two decades. In 2025, it remains a central piece of U.S. naval air power. While the F-35C and future platforms promise revolutionary capabilities, the Super Hornet continues to do the heavy lifting—with no signs of stopping.
-- Military Update
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Nearly the same paragraph could be written about the continuing power of the Marine global, air, ground, logistics task force, forward deployed on amphibious ships.
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The expandable Marine MAGTF has proven to be a reliable, deadly, and adaptable platform for many decades. In 2025 and beyond, it remains a central piece of U.S. naval power. While the F-35, F-47, and future island missile units promise revolutionary capabilities, the upgraded and enhanced Marine MAGTF continues to do the heavy lifting for global crises and contingencies — with no signs of stopping.
-- Compass Points
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Over many years, the US Air Force promised that the F-35 was the long term aviation answer. Now, with their sudden pivot away from the F-35, the Air Force is admitting the F-35 is not the long term answer. Compass Points salutes the Air Force for being able to turn away when what seemed to be the answer, turns out not to be the answer. It is time for the Marine Corps to do the same. Years ago the Marine Corps began to focus on small sensor and missile units off the coast of China. Now, however, it is clear the focus of the Marine Corps needs to move forward to a better long term answer, the upgraded and enhanced, global, combined arms, Marine MAGTF. When the next crisis arrives in some foreign country, US policy makers must have the option that has worked so well, in so many crises, "Send in the Marines!"
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National Security Journal - 07/28/2025
The F-35 Is Now The Frankenstein Stealth Fighter
By Andrew Latham
Dr. Andrew Latham is a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities and a professor of international relations and political theory.
https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/the-f-35-is-now-the-frankenstein-stealth-fighter/
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Military Update - 04/16/2025
F/A-18 Super Hornet in 2025: Is It Still the U.S. Navy’s Best Fighter Jet?
https://www.militaryupdate.net/2025/04/fa-18-super-hornet-2025.html
Change and modernization are a double edged sword that must be wielded with great caution. Was any sidearm introduced after the M1911A1 really a better pistol?
I have never been a huge fan of the multi mission aircraft, Swiss Army knife plane a great idea. Some, over history, can do multiple things well but not optimally. Pure fighters are the best with a tertiary capability for CAS or deep strike or ship sinking abilities. Few weapons become multi functional gold medal winners like the 88 mm gun or the P-47.
In the air arena I like the concept that your enemy must focus on multiple air frames with different and even overlapping secondary or tertiary capabilities.
That said, I would be cautious about scaling back on the F-35 triad until I am 100% sure that the 47 meets the requirements and is being produced in sufficient numbers to avoid a capability gap. Will the Corps draw similar conclusions about the Osprey and the current AAV? I certainly hope so. Will DoD continue to push towards electrical combat vehicles.
Will the Navy want an F/A 47 version?
The Corps went all in on the Anti Ship missile concept that was quickly exposed as insufficient and poorly thought through. What probably should have been a niche addition to the Artillery Regiments became center ring in the circus.
Ford bet big on electric vehicles. Toyota refused. Now Ford is offering free installation of home garage recharging stations and getting little traction.
We have said this in this forum before: if you are on the wrong train get off at the next station.
The simple question remains: “Where in the world might the Corps find itself in a fight and how must it be organized, equipped, manned and trained to prevail in the worst case scenario.” Plan accordingly. Hint - it is not being the fourth best ship sinkers on a four man team.
Imagine the young college basketball player telling his coach his value to the team is shooting the three point shot when he is, in fact, the worst three point shooter. Prepare to ride the bench. Four charts should add a clarity that just seems to be too hard to grasp at HQMC.
If the Air Force believes the F-35 is a bad aircraft and they want to exit the program, good for them. The Marine Corps needs to wake up and do the same with FD.
Regarding earlier conversation with Cpl Grable, I honestly do not believe Congressional members realise what the loss of a robust expeditionary force means. Right now on the ground side, what can the Marine Corps offer in another Mideast War if that occurs? A lot of infantry, very little artillery support, and no direct mobile armored fire support/tank. With the focus on mainly China, what about contingencies not in a littoral region or in other areas of the world? The Army is large enough to have units which focus on specific regional areas. The Marine Corps must remain global and robust. As others here have said, if there is a need for anti-ship strike (which there may be) a MEU could be tailored for that mission.