this post makes sense.  We need a state of the art jet .. because look how long we take before we upgrade to a new jet?  40 years!  You buy Superhornets or Rafale and the thing is obsolete almost by the time it is delivered.  SH is a 17 year olf plane already, and we'd get delivery in what 2023??  bah, just get the F35 and be done with it, it will outlive any other jet in production today.  and I agree .. the larger budget should be for drones of all kinds, surveillance and attack drones eventually.