The panel treats reports that the F-35 could simply be cancelled with scepticism. Its supply chain reaches many companies, constituencies, and partner countries, so cancellation would create domestic and diplomatic liabilities rather than only stop one American purchase. A proposed successor could not replace aircraft already needed while the future system remained unavailable. Partner governments would also have claims for the capability and industrial work they had funded. The resulting compensation and termination costs could make continued production cheaper than abandoning the programme.
Notable Point · 1:19:04-1:20:35
Why the F-35 programme would be difficult to cancel
A procurement aside explains how industrial participation, congressional interests, international partners, and cancellation liabilities make ending the F-35 programme far harder than announcing a replacement.