Posted on 12/07/2016 9:15:49 AM PST by Sean_Anthony
Not even for Air Force One
Defense contractors were pretty excited when Donald Trump won the election, figuring it was fat and happy time once again for defense spending. And if happy time means the Pentagon will once again be willing to fund what the nation needs for its defense, then there should indeed by plenty of smiles to go around.
As for the fat part, defense contractors are used to the idea that cost overruns are no issue with the Pentagon because whatever they order they have to have, and have right away. The cost-is-no-object approach to national security is understandable in a certain sense, but when contractors know they can go hog wild with no consequences . . . well, they’re going to go hog wild. Frequently.
General Dynamics was the contractor for the F16, I believe.
Have you seen how much cash Boeing has blown through with the KC-46? They signed a firm fixed price contract and to date has had to eat over $1.25 billion in cost overruns.
Double charging is noting new for defense contractors.
That worthless USS Zimwalt is nearly $4 Billion and congress wants 30+ of the stupid things. $800 K for 1 shell, $2 B to fully arm. Got stuck on maiden voyage and had to be towed back to Bath.
http://www.fi-aeroweb.com/Defense/DDG-1000-Zumwalt-Destroyer.html
FUBAR!
I've seen a piece that says Trump obviously doesn't know how much it costs to build a car or an airplane - it seems that Boeing doesn't know either....makes a farce of the bidding process in general.
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