Posted on 11/20/2010 8:25:36 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Lockheed Martin has received a $3.5 billion contract modification from the U.S. Department of Defense to manufacture 31 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in the fourth lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP). The contract also funds manufacturing-support equipment, flight test instrumentation and ancillary mission equipment. Including the long-lead funding previously received, the total contract value for LRIP 4 is $3.9 billion.
Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will produce 10 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants for the U.S. Air Force, 16 F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variants for the U.S. Marine Corps, four F-35C carrier variants for the U.S. Navy and one F-35B for the United Kingdom. Additionally, the Netherlands has the option to procure one F-35A.
“We are focused on getting 5th generation fighter capability into the hands of U.S. and allied pilots as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible,” said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager.
(Excerpt) Read more at lockheedmartin.com ...
>>”The F-35 program has about 900 suppliers in 45 states, and directly and indirectly employs more than 127,000 people.”<<
This is the one and only reason I can find any support for the F-35 program. I think the aircraft are way overpriced for their mission.
By my math, the F35s are costing just a bit less than the “too expensive” F22s ($133M each). And F22s can eat F35s for lunch in an air supremacy role. Easily.
So why is the Air Force buying 35s? Or rather, who was paid off?
The F-35 is a multi-role strike fighter not an air-superiority fighter and it also isn’t replacing the same aircraft that the F-22 was slated to replace, the F-15. The F-35 is slated to replace the AV-8B, Marine Corps EA-6B, F/A-18, F-16 and A-10.
>>So why is the Air Force buying 35s?<<
Because the senior people in the committees voted to spend the money.
Understood, but the F22 program got gutted for being “too expensive,” even in the air superiority role. The 35 was supposed to be cheaper but “good enough” once the 22 we have cleared the skies.
As for the 35 replacing the hogs in a ground support and tank killing role? Delusional. (Not directed at you, but those who are making these decisions.)
The advancements in PGMs and targeting pods means you don’t have to go as low; where you’re more susceptible to IR MANPADs, to provide CAS.
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