This makes everyone involved look stupid.
I agree that the F-35 is the wrong aircraft for us, but the role it is intended to fill, it could do very well. problem is; it's totally the wrong role for us to fill with an aircraft this expensive.
We don not need the Avro Arrow, unless we're talking the MKIV, ect, we need an aircraft LIKE the arrow. High Speed, High Altitude, Long Range. Something we can double in the strike and air-defence suppression role. such as the latest version of the MIG-31.
The F-35 is a completely different kind of aircraft than the Arrow was. They play different games, entirely. It's like matching up a hockey and water polo team.
now...if you were to, for instance develop a weapon effective against stealth aircraft and put it on a mach 3+, 90,000 ft + ceiling airframe, then it's not even a contest.