Self-licking ice-cream cone hopes and dreams from the rent-seekers.
As for the weapons systems and the management there-of:
1. No proper "Needs" analysis.
2. No proper "Requirements" analysis.
3. Marketing over true language of skilled engineers (tail wagging the dog).
4. Group-think in large quantity.
5. Rent-seeking before valid defence of the nation.
The greatest threat to the nation is the national debt and a business-unfriendly government. If these two things are not fixed properly, and soon, there won't be a defence worthy of the name because all the government really cares about is bureaucratic power; soaking the taxpayer; and nanny-state uber alles.
A 4th Air Warfare Destroyer? It is not needed. Just like the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd AWD. Simply because it was a bad idea. Someday we will need to replace our current frigates with the exact same capability. Like-designs in an affordable manner. The AWD, along with the Canberra-class large flat-top amphibs, hurt all of Defence because they take billions away from other needs.
The AWD and Canberra-class amphibs are unsustainable. They need crew resources we don't have (with help of an insurgent DMO) along with other sustainment issues.
And, without a valid air power plan, (including depending on the U.S. which is well on the way toward an obsolete-to-the-threat carrier air wing) can only be dead meat in a real war.
As the government runs out of more money to do things, look toward a future where the new big ships are tied up to the dock most of the time. When they go out, it will be with too-few crew.
Hollow force. Can't live within our means. Throwing away existing capability.
An insanely expensive paper-tiger.
No crystal ball needed.
4 comments:
Aye Eric, a situation that will be worsened by having to rob other parts of the Navy to crew whatever of 12 new submarines they can keep continually available for operations.
Only 2 or 3 trained crews can presently be mustered, yet both of the major political parties are pursuing this unaffordable and unsustainable goal!
South Korea
The DAPA said that 60 F-35 cost 15trillion Won($14billion).
http://www.segye.com/Articles/News/Politics/Article.asp?aid=20130106022880&ctg1=07&ctg2=&subctg1=07&subctg2=&cid=0101010700000
We are looking at a legacy of no children here. Slavery and harem soon.
To Anon 4.24,
Was that Total Procurement Cost estimate (in Then Year Won/Dollars?) made for an F-35B acquisition? F-35A? Interesting..
If for an F-35A acquisition costing in 'Then Year Won', I'd think that Procurement estimate (not including Infrastructure, weapons, MIL construction or any Life cycle operational costs) might be a little high? Maybe closer to $190-$200m per unit total Procurement, retrofitted and mature, in then year dollars?
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