Posted on 05/27/2010 4:37:39 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Rust is not something the average person thinks much about when it comes to designing high-tech weapons. But several years ago I reported on a major missile test defense test that was ruined because a part rusted that helped hold the missile in place before liftoff. And in February the entire F-22 fleet was grounded “due to poorly designed drainage in the cockpit.” The affected parts were ejection seat rods. Congress is worried that similar problems could afflict the Joint Strike Fighter and has requested a report about lessons learned from the F-22’s experience.
Regardless of how lowly rust might seem at first glance, it is a huge problem for the military, costing about $20 billion each year. According to the House Armed Services Committee, roughly $7 billion of that rust is preventable. So, the committee, doing its job of congressional oversight, wants to substantially increase the budget of a little known Pentagon entity, the Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight, to improve the military’s ability to stop rust from crippling major weapons systems.
“The Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight has a proven record of successfully reducing corrosion costs, with a 50-to-1 return on investment on the 169 programs that have been implemented through it,” the HASC says in the summary of its bill. So the committee is increasing the office’s budget to a paltry $10.8 million, up from a tiny request of $3.6 million. Doing the math, that should result in a return of $540 million to the taxpayer. Kudos to Daniel Dunmire, director of Corrosion Policy and Oversight.
(Excerpt) Read more at dodbuzz.com ...
Well, it’s certainly important to keep weapons and equipment free of rust and other corrosion.
I admit, though, there’s something I find vaguely amusing about having an department called “The Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight”. :-)
I agree.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rust
Still yet another hit against the F-22
Yup, good ol’ Rusty.
“Congress is worried...”
that Congress has to worry about cockpit rust in an Air Force jet...worries me...
One would think at $100,000,000+ per copy stainless steel would have been used or am I missing something!!
Outlaw DiHydrogen-Monoxide.
Obviously,we need a Rust Czar.
It worries me too. I would think that we would have lots of "lessons learned" over the last few decades of fighter designs that would result in rust not being an issue in a brand new fighter.
What happens when these fighters get deployed to areas where it's hot and extremely humid all year, and where the base is close enough to the sea that they get salt in the air as well?
Ask what kind of problems the jungle heat and humidity had on aircraft in Vietnam.
Mold grew on circuit boards.
Things degrade more quickly and maintenance is stepped up.
Yep. People need to read more history. No different in the Pacific and CBI in WWII.
Ping.
At that price, I’d expect titanium and ceramic, especially when they’re always trying to reduce weight.
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