By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/f-35-extended-interviews Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Experts Voice Pros and Cons of F-35, Military’s Newest Fighter Nation Apr 21, 2010 7:00 PM EDT The Pentagon’s forthcoming warplane, the Joint Strike Fighter, is intended for use across the different branches of the military but has come under fire in Congress for skyrocketing costs and delays. Skeptics and defenders of the aircraft, which will be called the F-35, express their views in the following extended interviews. Author and journalist Bill Sweetman says for the first time the re-equipment plans of the U.S. fighter force is reliant on one program and one manufacturer: Maj. Gen. C.D. Moore says the F-35’s near invisibility to enemy weapons systems is one of the factors that will make it an effective warplane: Former Capitol Hill staffer Winslow Wheeler says the F-35 was doomed from the start because of its three different functions and use by multiple services: Tom Burbage of Lockheed Martin defends the Joint Strike Fighter from its critics: On Wednesday’s NewsHour, watch Kwame Holman’s report on the controversial fighter. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
The Pentagon’s forthcoming warplane, the Joint Strike Fighter, is intended for use across the different branches of the military but has come under fire in Congress for skyrocketing costs and delays. Skeptics and defenders of the aircraft, which will be called the F-35, express their views in the following extended interviews. Author and journalist Bill Sweetman says for the first time the re-equipment plans of the U.S. fighter force is reliant on one program and one manufacturer: Maj. Gen. C.D. Moore says the F-35’s near invisibility to enemy weapons systems is one of the factors that will make it an effective warplane: Former Capitol Hill staffer Winslow Wheeler says the F-35 was doomed from the start because of its three different functions and use by multiple services: Tom Burbage of Lockheed Martin defends the Joint Strike Fighter from its critics: On Wednesday’s NewsHour, watch Kwame Holman’s report on the controversial fighter. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now