Air Force finally admits the F-35 is too expensive. Its solution? Spend even more. Air Force finally admits the F-35 is too expensive. Its solution? Spend even more. (msn.com) With an estimated lifetime cost of $1.6 trillion, the F-35 Lightning II, conceived as a versatile, super stealthy next-generation fighter plane, is the most expensive weapon system ever built. When the program began way back in 1992, the F-35 was supposed to be an affordable one-size-fits-all solution for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. It took until this February for the Air Force to publicly admit that the F-16 replacement failed the affordability test. On Friday, Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, verbalized the long-simmering frustration with the massive program’s costs and persistent technical problems when he said he wanted to “stop throwing money down that particular rathole…Is there a way to not keep spending that much money for such a low capability?” But, the solution the Air Force is considering could make the problem worse: Spend more money on another new jet to replace the F-16. _______ Perhaps the so called Gen VI demonstration / test bed platform will offer so much more capability in a different package for similar funds. The F-35 prototype flew a long time ago. Procurement needs to accelerate fielding and stop taking years and years and years to obtain practical IOC. Just an arm chair enthusiasts interested in manned aviation platforms. I understand the stealth advantage will not last all that long. No way the A.F. will buy anywhere near 1700+ F-35 airplanes. Going forward all future fighters should use a version of the VTOL. Fixed 10,000 foot runways are vulnerable and the issues will only become worse with future brilliant out of the loop inexpensive drones and missile barrages. USAF does not assign top priority to airbase repair. I 'believe' it is technically the Army's job. Tactical jets need to be dispersed. VTOL jets can run ops, a stone's throw from the front.
The F-15EX USAF is buying to supplement the F-35 is more expensive than the F-35 and cannot penetrate a high threat environment. Same with the supplemental F-16s USAF is buying, except not as expensive. These are similar to the arguments that killed the F-22 and B-2 prematurely before economies of scale could kick in, when we could really use many more of both now and not be forced to buy 70s technology 4th gen fighters to fill gaps. 188 vs 729 F-22s? Thanks, Gates. Nobody ever asks the crews who fly the aircraft. They just listen to the nay-sayers who do not even understand the programs or the aircraft.
More to the story......Joebama and his gender neutral friends want to materially reduce the Defense Department budget and its military capability so that they can spend more money on transgender bathrooms, social programs and other completely stupid activities. The F35 is a target rich environment for them and they will use the F35 as an example of Defense spending that is out of control and needs to be "re-imagined". When Joebama is done.... China will have the leading global military and Hunter will be a billionaire.
F-15EX is on track to limit the program, to approximately 144 airframes. Most likely these will serve in a home air defense role with the Air Guard and or a role to augment the day 1 stealth aircraft after enemy ADA has been neutralized. Optionally the USAF (may) consider buying more to replace the Gulf War I era F-15E. The idea is to replace older high time F-15C airframes that are ageing out faster than can be replaced with the F-35A. The EX has better legs, speed, and load.
Still a Gen 4 airframe and there is no need for the EX in the home defense role since it is optimized for interdiction, with a good air-to-air capability. Legs on the F-15E and EX are not that great, but of course that comes from an F-111 guy. We are wearing out our F-15s and F-16s because the F-35's production has been slow-rolled. Price will be below $80M very soon.
