Yet, this release (PDF) from the U.S. DOD F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) via their very own website, does just that.
The brand-new jets, $70 million each, are arriving at Eglin regularly — roaring in directly from the factory in Dallas.
A quick check of SARs and DOD budget line items (even just procurement with no R&D), shows no "$70 million each" F-35 anywhere in sight. Even the special "roll-away" cost with no motor.
$70M? Really?
Also, to be accurate--in order for the benefit of the moron that wrote this nonsense--the factory is in Fort Worth.
It goes on. Petting the badger.
Thus F-35 boosters like Toth imply with confidence that their baby is virtually immune from the knives of Washington budget cutters.
Well, history shows, that just is not so, given that due to program management incompetence what we have is this:
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Which is a down-turn from 2003:
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I suspect that there are more cuts to come and then...what?
My guess is the new JPO boss General Bogdan hasn't gotten around to having a chat with his public affairs folks.
1 comment:
In 2019 you maybe can buy a completly watered down block 3 F-35. For an insane price and sustainment costs. An F-35 that by that time can do even less then a F-16 today.
I remember having discussions on this blog about capabilities, block content etc wiht Spudman and others. Well its even more laughable now then it was then.
Today i hold the view there should not be 1 more order for the F-35. If LM wanne continue they can do that on their own account.
Let LM come back if they build something that works is cheap and usefull. They gotten enuff money from this by now.
Usa and potential buyers should stop wasting their money on this.
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