(Previous success? General Bogdan finishing up on the tanker program)
The many ways that the F-35 business plan has fallen apart shows kaleidoscopic views of gross mismanagement, corruption, rent-seeking, faith, ignorance and superstition.
All of this makes an ugly orthodoxy. Industry and government press releases, special interest groups, bought and paid for politicians, trade press, "journalists" and other bad actors try and project a deity, gods or goddesses, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, initiations, prayer and other ceremony. Most of this grand charade is backed up by outright lies, pseudoscience and mythology.
"Its' a fifth-generation fighter."
"Maneuverability is irrelevant."
"The JSF will not aim to fight in the WVR arena, but will be capable of fighting there if necessary."
"The same cost as an F-16 while being 20 percent less for operations and sustainment."
“It’s about $37 million for the CTOL aircraft, which is the air force variant.”
Today, anyone believing that the F-35 will be successful is locked into a belief system that has no solid engineering to support it. Time has past them by because what we are seeing, meets all the definitions of a failed program.
Let us not forget some who are very conflicted.
Like General Bogdan (Note to the Washington Post, the F-35 is not required to do vertical take-offs).
General Bogdan is in a mess; knows it; and anything that he states which puts the F-35 in a positive light does not sound credible because there is no evidence to support such a view.
Added bonus for today: questions about clarity of the supply chain.
I am curious how anyone believed you could make a $37M fighter by manufacturing vertical tails for the aircraft in Australia and the UK at the same time? These go to Fort Worth for final assembly. This source from LM states that vertical tail control assemblies get their low observable coating in Marietta, Georgia. The worldwide supply chain for this aircraft is very complex.
Australian industry companies contributing to the JSF program continued to make steady progress in November. BAE Systems Australia recently shipped its first vertical tail machined components that will be incorporated into Australia’s first two F-35A JSF aircraft to BAE Systems Samlesbury in the United Kingdom.
Queensland-based industry company, TAE, also made progress as it manufactured and delivered its first parts – advanced liquid-cooled electronic enclosures – for Australia’s first two JSFs. Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, visited TAE’s facility to witness the delivery and said the company was making a significant contribution.
“This work is potentially worth in excess of $15 million over the life of the JSF Program,” he said.
Bogdan tells us he is committed to lowering costs.
Again: good luck sir.
4 comments:
Amen to that.
Bogdan said all that needed to be said, to clear any doubt whether the program has failed, or not.
The only question remaining is, how much.
Still, you can't expect for a JPO head to be more blatant than he was.
I was surprised to hear him saying as much as he did, in the first place and the political climate behind the Bogdan, speaks volumes.
A number of reporters and journalists have called asking why LtGen Chris Bogdan is starting to sound like Air Power Australia.
Funny as.
I agree Horde and either way it is good news.
Either APA is becoming more reasonable or reporters are just starting to admit they haven't got a clue.
Because Gen Bogdan speaks very highly of the F-35's capability. It is cost, schedule and the program office / contractor relationship that has him concerned at present.
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