Seawolf and F-22 extend the comparison with Zumwalt beyond surface ships. A strong platform can still lose support when a missing role becomes a reason to stop buying it. The F-22 example considers whether more extensive air-to-ground capability could have helped justify a larger purchase. Such adaptation is acknowledged to have been expensive. The favourable assessment of the aircraft sits alongside concern that a small fleet keeps shrinking.
Notable Point · 32:20-33:20
Seawolf, F-22, and the cost of small specialist fleets
The F-22 comparison weighs costly air-to-ground adaptation against the possibility of justifying more aircraft.