Posted on 05/13/2013 11:00:38 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Boeing aims to keep building F/A-18 jets through 2020
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
Published May 10, 2013
Reuters
WASHINGTON – Boeing Co could keep building its Super Hornet fighter jet and a modified electronic attack version through 2020, the company said, given prospects for over 200 foreign sales and what it sees as up to 150 more sales to the U.S. Navy.
Michael Gibbons, Boeing vice president for F/A-18 and EA-18 programs, spent part of this week pitching additional sales of Boeing's last fighter jet to congressional staffers in a triple-wide trailer packed with simulators, displays and souvenirs.
His mission? To safeguard funding for 21 EA-18G Growlers in the Pentagon's fiscal 2014 budget, and underscore the advantages of the Super Hornet, for which Boeing has developed a package of upgrades aimed at making it more competitive with Lockheed Martin Corp's fifth-generation F-35 multirole fighter.
The F/A-18 is one of Boeing's last fighter jets in production after it lost the F-35 contract to Lockheed in 2001. It is also building F-15s for Saudi Arabia. Boeing has sought to parlay delays and cost overruns on the F-35 program into more sales of its jets, but its efforts have taken on new urgency in recent years as F/A-18 production begins to wind down.
"It's a make or break year for the F/A-18 and Boeing," said Virginia-based defense consultant Jim McAleese. He said the company was scrambling to drum up more sales since the Navy's current plans call for no further Super Hornet purchases.
Boeing backers in Congress have repeatedly added F/A-18s to the Navy's budget in recent years, arguing that the Navy needs more fighters to bridge the gap until the F-35 can be fielded.
Gibbons told Reuters that Boeing wanted congressional aides to see the F/A-18 as a viable
(Excerpt) Read more at foxbusiness.com ...
Shouldn’t be a problem since the F-35 sucks, is expensive, can’t do it’s job and is pretty much useless.. much like a politician.
How much time have you logged in an F-35?
None.. but quite familiar with FT&E, DT/OT.
JSF started in October 2001 rebaselined in 2004 following weight and performance problems and rebaselined again in 2007 because of additional cost growth and schedule slips. The program exceeded critical cost growth thresholds established by statute (Nunn-McCurdy breach) and continued restructuring actions during 2011 and 2012 that added more cost, extended schedules, and further reduced aircraft procurement quantities.
Flight, ground, and lab testing had identified significant technical and structural concerns that, that if not addressed, would have substantially degrade the F-35 capabilities and mission effectiveness. The carrier variant Arresting Hook System was redesigned after the original hook was found to be deficient, which prevented active carrier trials in 2012. Over time, testing has discovered bulkhead and rib cracks. The program is testing some redesigned structures and planning other modifications.
It’ll eventually get there but at what cost. Aircraft are disposable assets in war.. I’m all for getting the best there is for the military and keep our technological edge but there’s a point where enough is enough.. F-35 is approaching $400B.
Talk to the pilots at PAX River, Eglin, Yuma and Nellis.
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