Posted on 12/29/2016 10:23:02 AM PST by Mariner
A trio of Connecticut Democratic lawmakers is calling President-elect Donald Trump’s calls for finding an alternative to the F-35 a “total nonstarter.”
“Any suggestion that there is a substitute for the F-35 is a total nonstarter,” Reps. Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro and John Larson said in a statement Friday. “This is a program that has been vetted ad nauseum by the Pentagon, the Congress and independent experts. There is simply no aircraft in production today that can compare with the F-35’s advanced avionics, networked capabilities and integrated stealth.”
On Thursday, Trump took aim at the F-35 fighter jet for the second time in as many weeks, tweeting that he wants to explore a “comparable F-18.”
“Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet,” he tweeted.
The F-18 is a fourth-generation plane and does not have the capabilities that define the fifth generation F-35, including stealth. If Trump is serious about redesigning the F-18, that could mean years of development and billions of dollars.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
What's it worth to ME?
Of course there not another fighter developed that does what the F-35 does. And of course it would take 6-10 years to field a substitute.
But that doesn't mean we should pay $85mil per copy for the F-35. There MAY be other aircraft fully developed and ready for production that would be "good enough" for the mid-term.
I cite the F-15c - 2040 as an example.
If Trump succeeds in getting the price down from $84mil to about $75mil it's a huge win for everyone.
Hmmmm...wonder why a bunch of CT representatives want to preserve the F-35.
They talk as if they are in charge of something.
^^^^ Post of the day!
No one cares Dems. You are irrelevant noise.
What are they going to do?
Ask how much Pork is being spent in Connecticut.
CT is the home of Pratt and Whitney, the exclusive engine provider for the F-35.
A weapon system that bankrupts its owner becomes an enemy weapon. -AAM
Let me guess...I'm betting a lot of this "cost" is graft to these reps and/or friends and families. I think Trump sees a LOT of that already and knows how this game works. Cost it out high and take a few million for your friends and family.
Dumbocrats still talking down to Trump like their god in the white mosque tries to do -— HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Public embarrassment and humiliation is a powerful tool to hold over a Senators head.
Trump is a Businessman and Congress are Drunken Sailors
Pratt and Whitney engine powers F35
GE powers F18
Pratt needs F35 to survive. PW is based in CT
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