How about 2,400 F-35's for $200,000,000 each? We'll totally outgun the rest of the world then.
Well, not exactly. They don't seem to fly completely right just yet ya see. However, for a nominal upgrade fee*, the Deluxe model, which is a Jiant Killer, will work.
*Maybe. Just need a few more cost overruns driven by the latest set of multi-mission parameters and subcontractor interface programs. We can field the system at its incipient obsolescence milestone, then begin the needed replacement program while executing 496 interim block upgrades and mission adaptation modifications.
Wait, wut? The threat is a unglateborne indiginee equipped with ComBlock surplus and a bad attitude? You say that a existing, modified aerial application aircraft may possibly be the best fixed-wing platform available to counter the threat? Doooood, that has NO CDI factor. We could fill the sky with 200,000,000 of them for the cost of one F-35? COIN? We are trying to spend COIN!
Yeah, no.
Good start. We do need to replace a lot of our military aircraft as they are getting way to old to be safe, but the cost over runs and gold plated BS, much of it being pushed by congress and not the military has to stop. As Coburn pointed out, we spent millions on Italian transport aircraft the the military did not want. Now half are being scrapped and half are being stored. Some in congress keep pushing a back up engine for the F35 that the Airforce does not want or need, but it is adding to the cost of the jet.