A smaller version of the F-22?

Rumsfeld's Legacy by Fred Kaplan in Slate

$4.3 billion for continued development of the F-35 Joint Strategic Fighter, a smaller version of the F-22;

That is a complete misunderstanding of the Joint Strike Fighter.

The current F/A-22 has no attack capability and is just an air to air fighter and there is no excuse for the "/A" in its designation.

The F-35 is primarily an attack aircraft whose limited anti-air capability matches the best opponents it is likely to face.

F-35Bs operating from amphibious assault ships or improvised runways deep inside enemy territory will be vital to the campaigns of the global war against terrorism of the late 2010s and other F-35s in the hands of our allies will allow them to keep up in the fight.

The Joint Strike Fighter is not a jurassic throwback.

-HJC