So in sum, the program was a failure?
No, no, no, it succeeded wildly at its core mission of failing.
As will everything that replaces it, because it’s the core mission of our federal government.
The airplane will be 43 years old as a design in 2030.
Not quite a “failure”.
Century series fighters of the 50’s were retired in the early 70’s for the most part. The B52 being kept alive for over a half century should be regarded for what is - a budget driven bandaid, not a model for all other airframes.
The program was a resounding success, just the wrong companies without the political clout benefitted.
Today, there are better classified platforms being developed and due out very soon.
The F-20 cost per plane radically ballooned such that it was canceled at low numbers making the unit cost even greater by reducing the number of planes to spread outrageous development and manufacturing start up costs over. The maintenance costs of both the F-20 and B-2 are both sky high to maintain their stealth characteristics.
As an aside…. In the Afghanistan War, the wings were flown off the B-1 fleet. It needs to be retired quite a bit earlier than would otherwise be required. I have read that some or all of the fleet is no longer low level, supersonic rated as designed for its role as a contested space penetration bomber.
Anyone please correct me if I’m off on any of this.