Because from the beginning the F-35 was designed to be an export fighter.
Oh snap...
K...Makes absolute sense now...Sort of...
But why didn’t we sell the F-117’s??? Instead of scrapping them???
Its kinda like a progressive step you take from first, to second to third generation tech that keeps you flush in the export market, and yet doesn’t effect the way that could trump the improvements you’ve made since then...
Sometimes there has to be some sanity that has to trump, or at the least buffer/balance the economic necessities of these defense contractors...
Maybe its the control over the maintenance and spare parts part of the sale that controls the distribution of this technology...