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F-35

By: Tom Burbage, Betsy Clark, Adrian Pitman, David Poyer - ccontributor
Narrated by: Rob Reider
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Publisher's Summary

The inside story of the most expensive and controversial military program in history, as told by those who lived it.

The F-35 has changed allied combat warfare. But by the time it’s completed, it will cost more than the Manhattan Project and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. It has been subject to the most aggressive cyberattacks in history from China, Russia, North Korea, and others. Its stealth technology required nearly 9 million lines of code; NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover required 2.5 million. And it was this close to failure.

F-35 is the only inside look at the most advanced aircraft in the world and the historic project that built it, as told by those who were intimately involved in its design, testing, and production. Based on the authors' personal experience and over 100+ interviews, F-35 pulls back the curtain on one of the most heavily criticized government programs in history from start to finish: the dramatic flights that won Lockheed Martin the contract over Boeing; the debates and decisions over capabilities; feats of software, hardware, and aeronautical engineering that made it possible; how the project survived the Nunn-McCurdy breach; the conflicts among all three branches of the U.S. military, between the eight other allied nation partners, and against spy elements from enemies.

For fans of Skunk Works by Ben Rich and The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes, F-35 will pique the interest of airplane enthusiasts, defense industry insiders, military history aficionados, political junkies, and general nonfiction audiences.

©2023 Tom Burbage, Betsy Clark, Adrian Pitman, David Poyer (P)2023 Skyhorse Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

“During the Cold War, the F-16, which I flew, dominated the skies over Europe. Many nations anchored their fleets on its capabilities. Europe's security now requires the capabilities of the F-35, which will dominate not only the air domain, but support information dominance across all domains, including our ground forces. Building that coalition was a strategic imperative. This book tells that story.”—General Phil Breedlove, former Commander, U.S. Air Forces, Europe; Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

"A carrier without jets is nothing! The RN/RAF F35 partnership is an operational necessity, but the RN/USMC F35 partnership is strategic, and a game changer.”—Admiral Sir George Zambellas, First Sea Lord 2013-16

“A fascinating tale of the birth of the Joint Strike Fighter. From the halls of congress to the office of the Secretary of Defense, the fight to terminate fielding of the Lightning II was relentless. And yet because of the visionary leadership and tenacity of a few, we fly this magnificent airplane today…Bravo!”—General James F. Amos, USMC (ret) 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps

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Lightning strike

An excellent book and very glad I bought this one. This is a fascinating insight into the tortuous and labyrinthine process it took to deliver this aircraft in its 3 variants. I can clearly recall some of the angst and hand wringing that went on as the design and development, budget blowouts and increases in cost per platform, cast strong doubt the plane would get into the air. That it has and is equipping air forces all over the world, and giving our communist enemies moments of pause, is a tribute to the intellect and tenacity of all those people who got the aircraft into the air. I stood and watched 3 RAAF F35s fly over my head during the RAAFs 100th anniversary flypast over Canberra. Stunningly beautiful and deadly aircraft and I was privileged to see them fly for me. Listen to and enjoy this Audible, a steal for one credit ;-D

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