F-35 cost estimate grows up to nearly 90%

FlightGlobal ^ | 3/19/2010 | Stephen Trimble

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The US Department of Defense today confirmed the cost estimate for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter procurement has leaped between 57% and 89% since contract award eight years ago.

The new estimate raises the average cost of the latest Lockheed Martin stealth fighter from $59 million to between $93 million and $112 million, the DOD says. If adjusted for inflation over the programme's 30-year production plan, the average cost per aircraft grows to $114 million to $135 million.

The average cost is based on the DOD's plan to buy 2,443 operational F-35s through 2035.

The data confirms prior statements indicating the F-35 could breach a cost ceiling mandated under the Nunn-McCurdy Law, which triggers an automatic review of the programme.

DOD officials unveiled a sweeping restructuring of the programme on 1 February. The key changes, which included replacing the government programme manager, adding four flight test aircraft and slashing the five-year production plan by 120 aircraft, anticipated the restructuring required under the Nunn-McCurdy Law

[Loud Mime]

F-35 cost estimate grows up to nearly 90%

But the cost estimates on Obamacare are dead-on!

[oldenuff2no]

This one isn't hard to figure out the obamass will be cutting this program too. He wants to fund his socialism by buying our weapons at the local dollar store.

[spetznaz]

Well, who cares if it goes to even US$ 200 million a copy!?!? After all, the F-35 is far far far better than the F-22, thus the cost is justified. Also, even though the cost of the F-35 is now approaching that of the much inferior F-22, who cares! After all, Uncle Sam can afford it, and secondly if it means canceling the F-35 that is also ok. After all, on FR I read all the time that all we need are more A-10 Warthogs and Predator/Reaper UCAVs. Thus, if this means having more Warthogs (hey ...they have a BIIIIG GUUUN) then it must all be alright, right?

Also, who needs a great plane like the F-22 ....ooops, sorry, the Raptor is inferior ....who needs a GREAT plane like the F-35 when all our enemies are turd-world countries who couldn't swipe at a drunk gnat! Thus, who needs anything better than an A-10 with its gun? Hey, even F-16.net claims all we needs are new build F-16s? Or maybe the new F-15 SE that is as stealthy as a 5th gen fighter ....even though the plane that it is based on, the F-15, has an RCS of 25m2 (huge!).

As for ever facing China ...please, never happen! We'll never fight them over Taiwan ....China would never disappoint Obama, and even if it did you have to consider that we own so much of their Treasury Bills ....wait a minute, they own so much of our Government Paper ....that it would never happen.

Do I need to mark the sarcasm in my post?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

No. You are Fine. But what about those other nations who cannot afford $135 million dollar plane, with the exception of Britain and Israel? They should get an option.

[Waco]

I recently got a letter fom the census bureau telling me they are going to send me a census form. Just helping the postal unions out?? But, don’t worry folks, there’s lots more $$$ where those came from, checked your back pocket/purse lately?????