A number of significant deals have been inked with the U.S. to buy the F-35, either to expand existing fleets or to replace old aircraft with the fifth-generation fighter.
The lesson of the air war in Ukraine has been the impetus for investment in the U.S. platform. Hindered by modern and Cold War-era air defenses, the conflict has shown that fourth-generation aircraft struggle on the battlefield.
Without air control, the fight on the ground in Ukraine has become a grinding, attritional struggle with echoes of World War I over a century before.
Several nations, therefore, have decided that despite the steep price tag compared to older fighters, the F-35, with its stealth capabilities, advanced sensors, and networking capabilities, is an increasingly necessary upgrade to prepare for future conflicts in an increasingly hostile environment, according to 19FortyFive.
