Put the Harrier III into production

The troubled F-35B STOVL will cost significantly more and provide less value than the existing, in-service USMC Harrier.

I am not a fan of STOVL jets but some are.

Who would benefit from new, Harrier III production?

-USMC. Their program of record spend for the F35 is $51B.

-USAF. Back in the early days of the Afghanistan war, the then USAF boss was looking at changing some of their F-35 requirement to STOVL B-models. That could make for an interesting Harrier Wing/Group table of organisation that I suspect would include  CH-47s to move fuel bladders, munitions and supplies.

-The UK. This gives them an out for their two big ships being built. They have already stated that Typhoons will be their air-to-air requirement for the nation.

-Same for Italy.

-Other nations with ski-jump ships have an option if they decide for such a thing, with a much lighter airframe.

-The Joint Operational Commander, who will have something in their tool bag much more useful than a F-35.

-Industry. Various industry participation for the Harrier III could be spread around, to include good FMS offsets.

-The theater logistics boss. The Harrier has a cost per flying hour much less than the F-35.

-The air-to-air tanker that can serve more aircraft.

The F-35 and the Harrier are not anti-access, threat aircraft.

For non-anti-access work, a Harrier brings more.