It is a punt, but there is a need for fighters immediately (from what the govt is saying). Even if we agreed to purchase F-35 tomorrow, when would we see them? 2020? 2025? The UK is scheduled to get their first 24 aircraft by 2023, so I highly doubt it would be any time before then.
We could be flying Super Hornets in 3-5 years, which buys time to select a fighter that will not be inservice until 2030 probably.
Don't see why this selection process needs to take 5 years. They've been going over this ####e for the past 6 or 7 years.
Ultimately I don't have a problem with the Super Hornet purchase. Get that going and then expedite the selection for the fighter that best meets our needs for the 2030's.
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