The F-35 first flew in late 2006, and they've debugged it enough to get it into full production...17 years later.
In the private sector, you'd no longer be able to buy the components it's built out of.
Ridiculous.
In the private sector, you'd no longer be able to buy the components it's built out of.
Ridiculous.
The benefits are similar to the reasoning behind setting up CI/CD in software. They are just more significant, as production takes a while to ramp up when it comes to complex hardware.
Hmm?
Which is one of the reasons the military likes using civilian ammo.
As for upgrades.. they're behind schedule.[0] There's Tech Refresh 3, which looks to be improved computers/displays/software, which is needed for Block 4, "which will include new sensors, the ability to carry more long-range precision weapons, more powerful data fusion, increased interoperability with other platforms and advanced electronic warfare capabilities."[1]
[0] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/03/30/f-35-upgrades-sli...
[1] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/12/15/f-35-head-warns-f...
most of the fighting, and a whole lot of dying, has been with late-cold-war era tech. The upgraded T-72 tank, and it's successors, the T-80, and T-90, for example, are all far older than 2006.