IN MOST contexts, a dignitary calling something new a “game-changer” is the weariest of clichés. But posterity may look back at a speech given at an air base in southern Israel in the evening of December 12th, and conclude that the president of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, was speaking a simple truth. The game to which Mr Rivlin referred was the balance of power in the Middle East. The change was the arrival of two F-35 Joint Strike Fighters on Israeli soil, marking the first delivery of what will eventually billed as a fleet of 50.
The arrival of the warplanes would be a big deal for any air force. The F-35 is called the world’s most capable stealth fighter, though to date it has drawn more headlines for its price of close to $100m a plane, cost over-runs and teething problems. Indeed shortly before the pair of fighters was flown to Nevatim air force base from Italy, after a delay of some hours caused by heavy fog, the staggering cost of the F-35 was questioned by President-elect Donald Trump in a tweet, his favoured vehicle for ex cathedra announcements. “The F-35 program and cost is out of control. Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other)...Continue reading
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