Posted on 12/17/2010 8:16:55 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Cost Cutters Fix Sights on F-35 Fighter
By NATHAN HODGE
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is considering pulling back the Pentagon's commitment to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the costliest procurement project in the department's history, defense officials said.
At issue is how many of the supersonic, stealthy aircraft the U.S. is willing to buy, how much it will to pay for them and how long it will wait for them to enter service.
While the program isn't at risk of outright cancellation, a more exotic version of the aircraft is in the budget-cutting crosshairs. And with the Department of Defense putting the finishing touches on its fiscal-year 2012 budget request, and Washington in deficit-cutting mode, the decades-long, $382 billion tab is under close scrutiny.
"Secretary Gates and his team are in the midst of building the FY12 budget and, as part of that process, every program, including the Joint Strike Fighter, is being thoroughly scrutinized, but no decisions have been made yet," said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell. "That said, the secretary remains committed to developing the JSF into the backbone of our tactical air fleet for decades to come."
The Joint Strike Fighter was envisioned as an affordable, versatile jet to replace a variety of aircraft currently in service with both U.S. and allied militaries. The U.S. has long-term plans to buy at least 2,400 aircraft; foreign partners are expected to buy hundreds more. But the program, like many technologically ambitious weapons-development programs, has been beset by cost overruns and schedule delays.
In early 2010, Mr. Gates ordered a complete revamp, firing the program manager,
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
It came up on another thread a week or two ago that for every 5 F-35s you could buy 1 F-22, and 4 latest generation F-16s and still save about 45 million on the deal. Use the F-22s to establish air superiority, and the F-16s to haul the mail.
The GOP needs to tell the defense contractors that if Don’t Ask Don’t Tell passes then there will be MAJOR defense cuts and major other cuts starting Jan 10, 2011. They should have been sending out that message this past week.
We need dat money fo da abortions in da health care bill.
We don’t need to spend da money on Bush’s wars for oil.
How do you suppose the 16 will do against double digit SAMs?
If the IAF’s experience in Syria is any indication, not too bad... With the right support.
Well, we already cut most of the F-22s, so now if we just cut out the F-35s, we won’t be so “threatening” to other countries anymore. And that, after all, is the Democrat’s plan for protecting our country — being so unthreatening that other countries don’t bother with us.
The truth,
Zumwald
Future combat system
Missile defense
F22
Net military pay cut for 2011
Cuts on Iraq Afgahistan war supplimentals
What you are seeing is the “rationalization” of defense cuts. You bad mouth things, talk about fraud, waste, needlessness or overkill when in reality you’re just looking to cut cut cut.........
I’ll answer it for you, yes they will do bad.
Systems like sa10c, sa12......and newer change things.
Here’s where we could get the money:
1. End welfare extensions.
2. End welfare.
3. End educaton funding. Force the teachers to pay for pensions and healthcare and get paid what they really deserve, the kids aren’t learning jack squat and are just bieng indoctrinated in these state brainwashing prisons.
4. End arts funding
5. End foreign bribes. They don’t want our dollars anymore anyway.
6. Pull all military assets out of europe (west muzzie caliphate).
7. Get out of afghanistan. Obama just is happy more Americans keep dying there.
Baby momma on welfare has a vote, and she votes for the Obama. What do you think those like Rangle have made there entire political career on? Bring home the bacon baby! Even after being found guilty, Rangle will get re-elected.
Those in congress know where their bred is buttered, and while national security SHOULD be their concern, they can’t buy votes with those dollars. In fact, as with our southern border, the politician panders and all but rationalizes the breaking of us law so they don’t alienate the Latino vote.
Baby momma needs to feed her kids breakfast lunch and dinner at school, La tiqua needs an abortion, and Sasha the gay neighbor needs he’s
government subsidized plan to help pay for his HIV drugs. That’s how you buy votes.......and they all know it.
The F-22 is made to penetrate the air defenses and take them out. THEN the F-16 goes in and takes care of the rest. Once the SAMs are gone, you could bomb them with a B-17.
For every F-35 you could probably buy 1 F-22 and about a dozen F-20 Tigersharks. The Tigershark was the best fighter that the military never bought.
Pull back all you like Robert. Unless Congress agrees you're going to get those planes whether you want them or not.
Even Saddam and the Serbs were able to shoot down 16s. Not many, but they they scored some hits. More modern and stronger powers would have more success.
You speak the truth, the first daylight raid over Baghdad...
GULF MISSION (614 TFS)
http://www.lucky-devils.net/afm.html
Canopy of F-16 downed during Desert Storm returns home
http://www.f-16.net/articles_article8.html
Related Video:
F-16 daylight raid on Baghdad, day 3 of Desert Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnAHlOEja0&feature=related
You need the scale/volume with certain capabilities.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.