Is it just me or are others having déjà vu sensations here as well? We have already been over these points before and yet here we go again! 
Even if the various services, manufacturers etc had wanted to do three separate programs utilising common systems, though remaining separate, at some point the pressure (from Govt, the Pentagon and dare I say, a lot of you naysayers) to combine them into one would have still become unbearable thus resulting in a merger in to one...which, dare I say, would have been even less efficient/desirable than having done it right from the start as we have with the F-35. I challenge you to say that this would not have occurred! :
Mind you, I still say this is a moot point because speculating about what could have happened is simply that: speculation. I could have just as easily concocted a scenario whereby your fantasy of 2 or 3 separate platforms turned into a huge debacle. Would I be right? Maybe/maybe not. Does it matter or have any relevance for the existing reality? Nope! And as for the comment about relevance to 6th generation fighters…if you believe people aren't taking notice than you are a fool. At the same time though, remember that given the timelines involved, a lot of those involved will be long retied by then. Moreover, one has to remember that, just as the with the F-35, there are a lot of forces (such as politics, economy etc) that will influence developments regardless of what you might think is the ideal. Programs such as this do not operate in a vacuum of a design lab - they operate in the real world, with all its imperfections!
That all said, I have to tip my hat to you lot. You do seem to fight a fine rearguard action…especially when one considers the F-35 program is going from strength to strength:
Even if the various services, manufacturers etc had wanted to do three separate programs utilising common systems, though remaining separate, at some point the pressure (from Govt, the Pentagon and dare I say, a lot of you naysayers) to combine them into one would have still become unbearable thus resulting in a merger in to one...which, dare I say, would have been even less efficient/desirable than having done it right from the start as we have with the F-35. I challenge you to say that this would not have occurred! :
Mind you, I still say this is a moot point because speculating about what could have happened is simply that: speculation. I could have just as easily concocted a scenario whereby your fantasy of 2 or 3 separate platforms turned into a huge debacle. Would I be right? Maybe/maybe not. Does it matter or have any relevance for the existing reality? Nope! And as for the comment about relevance to 6th generation fighters…if you believe people aren't taking notice than you are a fool. At the same time though, remember that given the timelines involved, a lot of those involved will be long retied by then. Moreover, one has to remember that, just as the with the F-35, there are a lot of forces (such as politics, economy etc) that will influence developments regardless of what you might think is the ideal. Programs such as this do not operate in a vacuum of a design lab - they operate in the real world, with all its imperfections!
That all said, I have to tip my hat to you lot. You do seem to fight a fine rearguard action…especially when one considers the F-35 program is going from strength to strength:
- 100+ platforms constructed and delivered (in fact there might even be more accepted if it weren't for delays in the ability of the acceptance side to keep up);
- More coming down a line that is continuing to ramp up (43 in LRIP8, 71 in LRIP9, 115 in LRIP10, 131 in LRIP11 + + +);
- Increased FMS orders coming (Israel, Japan, Sth Korea, Singapore…;
- Contract negotiations proceeding much better (LRIP 6 & 7 finalised and LRIP 8 proceeding well);
- Unit Aircraft Price coming down (a 55% reduction in cost from LRIP 1 - 7) and following the predictions many have been making for years now;
- Concurrency issue reducing ($500M reduction in Concurrency cost from LRIP 1 - 7);
- Additional production line opened up;
- Software development proceeding acceptably and improving;
- Multiple service IOCs announced (and indeed moving forward in some cases);
- Flight Testing and related proceeding well (Still not a single aircraft loss either - point out an equivalent platform that can claim that after so many flight hours/aircraft?); and
- A growing list of customer representatives praising the aircraft and those developing it…despite what some of you might try to say.
