Comment by Dah00n | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Dah00n | Hacker News Reader

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>But the most important proof that the F-35 is a good airplane is that there are so many customers lining up to buy it.

You lost me there in an otherwise fine comment. The reason is at least as much that the big bully in the schoolyard wants you to buy his product and most don't dare not to. In many countries that did buy it there have been complaints from the other bidders on the contract that the contact was made specifically so no one else could win so they couldn't even bid properly (and lots of evidence says they are absolutely correct in stating this). This doesn't happen if the product was as good as you claim. Then it would have just won fairly. Personally I haven't heard of a single fair win but I don't follow it that close.

The theory that allied countries purchased the F-35 because they were bullied by the USA into doing so doesn't fit the fact that allied countries refuse to purchase American airplanes all the time.

France makes its own combat airplanes, some of which like the Mirage 2000 and the Rafale are in operation.

Sweden chose to make the Gripen, the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy chose to make the Eurofighter Typhoon, and Japan, well that's a weaker argument because their native fighter is based on an American jet fighter.

And those were the manufacturers that were shut out. Besides, I didn't say the US forced anyone. Being scared and being forced are close but not identical.

Edit: Having some knowledge about how the US operates in Europe I am not surprised. I have personally seen lots of examples of exercises in Europe where foreign nations participate and behave very well with the host. I have only ever seen the US navy and the US army just show up using radio frequencies they damn well feel like, unlike every other nation ever. Everyone else reserve frequencies beforehand. The US not so much, no matter what they might interfere with. The US is a bully that behaves like it damn well feels like.

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