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With the F-35’s Unreliability and Cost, a New More Advanced F-16 Could Be Just What the Doctor Ordered

With the F-35’s Unreliability and Cost, a New More Advanced F-16 Could Be Just What the Doctor Ordered
An F-16 fighter jet leaves Volkel Air Base on its way to be handed over to Ukraine, in Volkel, Netherlands, on May 26, 2025. Robin van Lonkhuijsen/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
Mike Fredenburg
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Commentary
Problems with F-35 unreliability and uncertainty over the aircraft’s ability to become the Air Force’s, Navy’s, and Marine’s everyday workhorse led to the creation and acquisition of a brand-new more advanced F-15, the F-15EX Eagle II. Yet, for nearly half a century, it is the F-16 Fighting Falcon that has been the foundational fighter for the U.S. Air Force (USAF).
Mike Fredenburg
Mike Fredenburg
Author
Mike Fredenburg writes on military technology and defense matters with an emphasis on defense reform. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and master's degree in production operations management.