Posted on 02/04/2010 5:54:00 PM PST by Kaslin
Defense: The administration decision to scrap a proven aircraft in favor of a supposedly cheaper, more flexible replacement is proving to be an expensive mistake. We may wind up defenseless and broke.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that was supposed to be America's frontline fighter for the foreseeable future is in big trouble. Defense Secretary Robert Gates fired the general in charge of the program this week amid concerns of spiraling costs and program delays.
Gates also announced he is withholding $614 million in fees from the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin. Daniel J. Crowley, one of Lockheed Martin's project managers, has acknowledged that the program is running at least six months behind schedule.
Gates was questioned about the program at a Senate hearing on Tuesday. He said he was unaware of a report by a special Pentagon assessment team in late 2008 that found development of the plane could be delayed by 2 1/2 years with $16.6 billion in cost overruns. Judging by his decisions, he is not unaware that the F-35 program, designed to fill the needs of all three services, is in trouble.
After hearing Gates' testimony, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said: "I'm still concerned about whether the services will get the (Joint Strike Fighters) when they need them."
He's right to be concerned: Further program delays will drive up per-unit costs, the wings are literally falling off our F-15s and F-16s, and the administration has killed further production of the F-22 Raptor. With what will we fight?
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
There hasn’t been a Navy plane that has been worth a SH*T since the F-14 and A-6 IRONWORKS PLANES RULE! F/A-18s SUCK!
The problem w/ defense companies is that they build secrecy into their culture. That is understandable.
Where this goes wrong is that everyone gets into the habit of lying to everyone else, and expect to be lied to in turn. Therefore, when the truth matters, it cannot be found.
Right now India has more new main line fighters on order with Russia than we are planning to build. Something is wrong. We need to revive the F-22. Gates is a wimp and disaster. Find him a butt buddy and put him out to pasture.
We need a real SecDef.
I've seen them all fly, and I am not impressed with the F-18 going vertical. The F-14D with the GE's was stunning.
IMHO they should have never cancelled the A12. Even overweight, it would have matched the A6 in performance and given the Navy Stealth, end of story. From there weight reduction etc. could have done. Look @ all the money for the F-18E/F. A follow on upgrade might have worked even better.
Tailhook 91 KILLED the F-14/A-6 community.
F22 OR F35?
False dichotomy.
This is why you don’t kill a running production line (F-22) until you are darn sure you don’t need any more.
The original plan was to replace some 1500 F-15s with 750 F-22s and now we say 187 is all we need.
You ain’t kidding. An A-6 could carry more ordnance than two B-17s. The Navy is now trying to use the FA-18 for a replacement for the EA-6B.
“Got a new plane for ya. It’s not as fast, has less range, and has less payload than the plane it’s replacing.” At that point the Navy shoulda said “If this is a joke, [t’s in execrable taste.”
Doncha just LOVE Bush 41’s way of thinking?
Gates also announced he is withholding $614 million in fees from the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin.
Gates decided the AF didn’t know what it was doing with the F-22 and had to be spanked. It will turn out that Gates is the one who doesn’t know what he’s doing. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. NEVER believe claims about the weapons system on the drawing board—until it flies, its vaporware.
Robert Gates Unleashed: "What Are They Going To Do, Fire Me?"
Adm. Mullen: Repealing 'Don't ask, don't tell' is the 'right thing to do'
General Casey: diversity shouldn’t be casualty of Fort Hood
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Dear God. Where is General Patton when you need him?
This is what happens when you put Obama in charge...
If we want a real SecDef, we first need to get a real President.
NAVAIR put most of their eggs in the A-12 basket and did a lousy job of effectively pleading their case when that fiasco was canceled..
Don’t worry, when we have a second rate military and full US rights for enemy combats, the thousands of civilian casualties will have free medical care!
This is like the satire administration.
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