Many experts and pilots have said that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter isn’t the state-of-the-art aircraft its cracked up to be, and the Pentagon may agree with them.

Military blog War is Boring recently acquired and published a test pilot’s report of the F-35 losing against its predecessor, the F-16D fighter jet. The Pentagon quickly responded that the F-35 isn’t made for dogfighting at all, but for long range shooting. War is Boring then made a lengthy argument that no, the F-35 can’t shoot long range targets either. 

The gist:

With limited sensors, compromised stealth, not enough energy and too few weapons, the F-35 is probably already outclassed in a long-range fight. Never mind merely staying out of short-range dogfights. America’s new stealth fighter should probably avoid aerial duels at any distance.

Ouch.

After such scathing criticism, it looks like the Pentagon is reconsidering its position. Yesterday, Marine Corps commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford told the press that the Pentagon may not need all 2,443 F-35 aircraft after all.

“Given the evolving defense strategy and the latest Defense Planning Guidance, we are presently taking the newest strategic foundation and analyzing whether 2,443 aircraft is the correct number,” Dunford said.

The F-35 has been in development long enough that American foreign policy and goals have shifted. While the enormous program won’t go away, slowing it down can give the Pentagon time to consider how exactly the F-35’s talents–or lack thereof–will fit into the broader military strategy.