The safety of defense forces is under condemnation after a fighter jet went missing in plain sight. The United States pours more of its federal budget (54% per few reports) into the Department of Defense (DoD) than the next ten countries combined.
About $877 Billion was devoted in 2022, while the national defense budget was $766 Billion, with a breakdown of 38% to operation and maintenance, 24% to Military personnel, 18% to procurement, 14% to research, development, test & evaluation, and 7% to other.
With such an exorbitant budget, the expectations are naturally higher as well. But these presumptions came crashing down when a fighter jet experienced a “mishap.”
On September 17, Sunday afternoon, a fighter jet pilot was flying an F-35 plane, claimed to be the “most advanced fighter jet in the world,” and the “most lethal, stealthy and survivable aircraft.” After a “mishap” (as reported), the pilot ejected from the cockpit in an emergency. He then parachuted safely into a North Charleston residential area. But the plane went missing for an entire day on autopilot mode, whilst the Joint Base Charleston urged locals through a social media post to help with any information they could. Finally, on September 18, after one day of missing, the authorities discovered debris in rural Williamsburg County, about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston.
F-35 Fighter Jet: All You Need To Know
The US defense force has commissioned Lockheed Martin for its high-octane, advanced, high-functioning fighter jets. According to the website– The specifications of the F-35 Lightning II pilot and training systems will help the students in training, comprising “a variety of training media to create a total training solution for the state-of-the-art F-35 weapon system.”
Note: It has been confirmed that the jet in question belongs to one of the unit’s training squadrons.
The F-35 Jet was operated by a pilot whose identity is undisclosed at this point. On Sunday afternoon, he noticed something off/malfunctioned in the jet and decided to escape immediately. He then ejected from the plane. He landed safely in a parachute in a nearby neighborhood, after which he was taken to a medical facility for a checkup.
The plane was left on autopilot. A few reports suggest that the plane was flying for some time before it disappeared.
Jeremy Huggins, a spokesperson for Joint Base Charleston, said that they started their search through the north of the air base around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion. They were hopeful because of coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, and this was the last known location, but the search was to no avail.
After a while, the Joint Base Charleston posted an update on their social media and urged the locals to provide any information.
Did They Find the U.S. F-35?
After a long, grueling search, debris was discovered on Monday evening. The wreckage of the F-35 fighter jet, which cost between $80- $150 million, was found two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston, an air base in North Charleston.
This is the only information available as of now.
Amidst the chaos, Republican congresswoman for South Carolina Nancy Mace posted on X–
“How in the hell do you lose an F-35?
“How is there not a tracking device, and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”
More Republicans voiced their criticism for the “mishap” that is still under investigation.
Republicans. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) commented on the military asking for help finding the F-35, stating– “military leaders are more focused on woke ideology than actually running a competent military.”
Meanwhile, another Conservative commentator, Benny Johnson, questioned Joe Biden’s leadership, “only under the Biden Administration could the US Military lose an $80 million F-35 jet in the air.”
What are your thoughts on the entire jet fiasco? Do you think that the defense lacked efficiency in tracking the plane?
What are your opinions on the budget allotted to defense? Let us know in the comments section below.
Source: Peter G. Peterson Foundation
