Posted on 02/10/2011 5:39:25 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The top brass at the Pentagon is signaling in no uncertain terms that the defense industry needs to clean up its act and accept that the government can no longer throw away money on ill-conceived military projects.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on Wednesday had some tough talk for defense contractors, saying firms must stop blowing smoke and over-promising about what they can deliver.
Dont blow smoke up my ass about what a military platform can do and when it will be ready, Schwartz told a tense and silent ballroom filled with defense industry executives. Theres no time for it. Theres no patience for it. OK?
The comments were the latest example of Pentagon officials speaking bluntly about the future of the U.S. defense sector, which they say must change rapidly to accommodate the nations new fiscal reality.
I don’t disagree with you. Design changes after a prototype has been decided upon should be discouraged. However sometimes they are neccessary because of changes to subassemblies or for new interoperability issues. Sometimes a contractors product simply does not perform well in LRIP (Limited Rate Initial Production) and needs redesign and additional testing before Full rate Production, this is not uncommon.
One of the problems DOD has that the private sector does not, is that DOD must have a fielded product that stays current for years. The private sector often (not always) can upgrade a product in the next model run or year but that is difficult for DOD to do in many cases. DOD really doesn’t want 20 very different versions of the same platform out in the field at the same time.....that becomes a logistical and training nightmare.
True, all you have to do is look at the F-35B STOVL.
They’re finding out the design wasn’t as robust as they believed.
Redesign, manufacture new parts, testing delayed, retest the new design, schedule slip, extra $$$$’s, etc.
We’re in agreement, I think we’re just coming at it from slightly different angles.
FRegards,
SZ
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