And so far the development budget is close to $400 BILLION! For ONE weapons system!
$70 million seems low if the “staff” is 2,590 people.
if they had 2590 staff full time engaged in shoveling hundred dollar bills into an incinerator, it would cost less and produce a more useful product
Much of this is attributable to blind regulation and non-value added documentation and reporting.
Also, a lack of true experts who participate in endless meetings, feeling obligated to justify their existence by asking stupid questions.
Aside from that, this is a very complex aircraft, with far flung subcontractors, in every congressional district, to maintain political support.
The F-35 has turned into a 'CLOWARD & PIVEN' money pit for the progressive Marxist regime.
And now we see the true capability of the F-35
One person per planned aircraft purchased.
F-117 developed in 31 months from decision to produce.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-117_Nighthawk
The other planes in the past with similar quick production.
Meanwhile the F-35 does not have a working gun for how many more years?
=====Congress to Air Force: You Can't Retire the A-10 Until the F-35 Proves It's BetterLegislators want proof the F-35 can take over the aging tank-killer's job
Congress threw down the gauntlet at the Air Force on Monday, introducing legislation to mandate keeping the A-10 Thunderbolt II—affectionately known as the Warthog—in service until the service can prove the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter can take over its job................
=====Pentagon to test F-35 against A-10 in 'common sense' war scenario showdown
WASHINGTON – A showdown might soon settle one of the U.S. military’s biggest air power controversies. The high-tech and expensive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will face off in upcoming testing with the Air Force’s aging close-air-support stalwart, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the director of the Defense Department operational test and evaluation office said Tuesday.
The battlefield comparison “makes common sense” and will pit the two airframes against each other in a variety of war scenarios this year, Michael Gilmore said during Senate testimony. ...........
=====Only One of Six Air Force F-35s Could Actually Take Off During Testing
Software glitches continue to dog the nation’s newest fighter jet.Five of six Air Force F-35 fighter jets were unable to take off during a recent exercise due to software bugs that continue to hamstring the world’s most sophisticated—and most expensive—warplane.
During a mock deployment at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, just one of the $100 million Lockheed Martin F-35s was able to boot its software successfully and get itself airborne during an exercise designed to test the readiness of the F-35, FlightGlobal reports. Nonetheless, the Air Force plans to declare its F-35s combat-ready later this year. ……………………