The Boeing X-32 Stealth Fighter's Hidden Strengths

The Boeing X-32 stealth fighter was once considered a loser in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition, which led to the development of the F-35. However, the aircraft had several strengths that are often overlooked.

Boeing designed the X-32 to be simple and cheap, using low-cost carbon fiber composites and aiming for commonality between the conventional take-off version and the V/STOL variant for the Marines. This approach would have made the aircraft easier and cheaper to manufacture and maintain.

The X-32's airframe design was also efficient, with a large one-piece composite delta wing that provided substantial internal fuel volume. In fact, it could carry around 20,000 pounds of internal fuel, potentially giving it a longer range than the F-35.

Despite its performance in flight tests, the X-32 lost the JSF competition to Lockheed's X-35 due to issues with its STOVL system and stealth-compromising intake. However, the production model that Boeing planned would have looked very different from the original prototype, with a new wing, twin tails, and reshaped intakes.

The controversy surrounding the F-35 has led some to wonder whether the X-32 would have been any better. While it may not have been as good as the X-35 in all aspects, its simplicity and cost-effectiveness could have made it a more survivable aircraft in combat.