It’s hard to find good news stories about the UK’s F-35B fighter jet these days. I keep looking because I believe the positive feedback from those who have flown it, but as delivery forecasts get worse and weapons integration timelines creep inexorably right, it’s getting harder and harder. Embarking 24 of these jets in HMS Prince of Wales recently is a herculean effort by hundreds of people on and off the ship: but then labelling the aircraft “Fully Operationally Capable” simply because this has been done, when so many of the underpinnings are so obviously absent, cheapens the achievement somewhat.
