Posted on 01/19/2010 11:22:47 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Storms and turbulence continue to buffet Lockheed Martin’s F-35 joint strike fighter program, as observers in the military, political and investment arenas keep a close watch for progress — or the lack of it.
Close on the heels of reports that the Pentagon plans to cut F-35 orders over the next several years, an internal Navy study leaked last week drove a new wave of speculation in the defense and aerospace industries.
The study, by the Navy’s aviation arm, says the cost to buy and operate that service’s version of the F-35 will be dramatically higher than predicted — 40 percent more than existing aircraft — and will put a serious squeeze on future budgets.
The report follows continued reports of F-35 development delays. It was also reported Jan. 6 that the 2011 Pentagon budget, set for release Feb. 1, will cut planned F-35 purchases.
The validity and accuracy of the Navy’s cost analysis is open to debate. Navy officials did not comment or elaborate on the study, but several veteran defense observers said it was a sign that many in the naval aviation ranks remain less than committed to buying the sea service’s version of the F-35.
By allowing the cost study to leak widely, "the Navy seems to be putting a log on the fire and prepping the battlefield to bail out" of the F-35 program, said Winslow Wheeler, director of the Strauss Military Reform Project and former longtime Senate defense staff member.
Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute and a consultant to Lockheed and other defense contractors, said the Navy study "is preposterously wrong. It makes no sense."
Thompson does not think that the JSF program is in serious trouble but said the study reflects the continued ambivalence of many Navy officials toward the
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
They succeeded in deep-sixing the F22 saying the F35 was the go-to aircraft. Now this!
Surprised?
As I’ve said before, somewhere PukinDog is laughing. He took a lot of flak years back saying what is currently happening would happen.
If this is an ‘all F-18 Navy’ mentality showing, then the F35 should be continued. If it has serious issues, the Navy is wise to stick with what it knows works, even if stealth is compromised.
The Marine STOVL variant
I remember.
The Navy’s needs are one issue.
Obama having Gates cut numbers on the F35 is another.
There are delays in production which is normal for huge programs like this...the leftist media will do all they can to make a crisis out of normal procurement problems.
These aircraft need to come online as our F15,F16 are getting older.
The F-18 is a winner instead but the Harrier is almost as big a dog as the V-22 which is far more of a FRAUD/Money Pit than the F-35. Being a single engine doesn’t help offshore either and its price should have been lower accordingly.
Not at all, and I want the F22 production numbers bumped up. It’s an absolute must IMO
Yeah. Me too.
But the likes of the people who publish this fecal matter don’t want the US to have either one.
In what passes for their minds the fight is only fair if our boys die and we lose.
I remember too.
Saw an article today that said the F-35 had accomplished only 10% of its planned 2009 flight tests.
I agree and it angers me.
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