In the video Sprey critisizes the F-15, which is not unsurprising considering the history of him going off and designing the F-16. But isn't the F-15 regarded as a great aircraft? It costs nearly double, but has a good record and capabilities, and is perhaps better than the F-16 at everything but slow dogfighting.
Yes, but the excellent F-15 was a synthesis between the ideas of the Figher Mafia[1] which Sprey represents and the more technocratic elements of the Air Force. By contrast, the F-35 seems to be an example of the worst excesses of the later.
