Posted on 03/11/2010 6:53:22 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The cost overrun on the main engine for the Lockheed Martin Corp , F-35 fighter jet has grown by $600 million over the past year, despite tough cost-cutting measures by engine maker Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp , a Navy document shows.
The total cost to complete the Pratt F135 engine is now estimated to be $7.28 billion -- $2.5 billion more than the $4.8 billion initially projected for the engine, according to the document, which was first reported by Aviation Week magazine on its website on Wednesday.
That is an increase of $600 million from the $1.9 billion cost overrun that was reported last year by the House Armed Services Committee.
Pratt spokeswoman Erin Dick said she was not familiar with the new number, and emphasized that the company's aggressive cost-cutting measures were taking effect.
Pratt also offered the Pentagon a double-digit percentage reduction in engine cost in its latest contract proposal.
Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter had expressed concerns about cost growth on the Pratt engine last year, but endorsed Pratt's efforts to cut costs in a memo to F-35 international partners dated February 24, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Wonder if Gates thinks we should still get rid of the alternative engine? Competition will breed an environment where companies are forced to keep costs as low as possible. Get rid of competition and he’ll think this cost increase was child’s play.
Everytime a story like his comes out, Bambi salivates in orgasmic anticipation of the day he can kill this project too...
I’m wondering how much of the overruns are due to the engine design (and the JSF itself) having to meet the different needs of each service branch. The Navy surely has certain engine for a carrier-based fighter that an Air Force design might not need, etc.
Just an observation/ponderance from a non-engineer.
This is why we can’t afford to develop the F136 engine. All of the money is needed to cover the F135 engine’s cost overruns.
Well, they are predicting a cost of $100 million dollars per jet.
My brother works for Rolls Royce, so this is good news for GE-Rolls. Rolls was probably going to have to lay off some people if the alternative engine program didn’t go through last fall.
Ping.
ping
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