Strategic Mismatch: The F-35 in High-Intensity Attrition Warfare (warontherocks.com)

• Trade-offs between sensor fusion capability and cost-effective scaling
• Logistical fragility of high-end stealth platforms
• Implications for European air dominance during sustained conflicts

"The F-35 platform was engineered for precision and stealth rather than the rapid production and sustainment requirements of large-scale industrial warfare. Current geopolitical trends favoring high-intensity conflict reveal critical vulnerabilities in complex, expensive weapon systems that cannot be replaced rapidly or maintained in contested environments, challenging the long-term viability of current European air procurement strategies."