you are right about the cost but surely the main reason the F35A costs less is because it is being produced in larger numbers? Wouldn't the F35C cost substantially less if it 2,000+ of them were being bought for the Air Force,Navy and Marines? One of the largest cost factors in air warfare is the provision of aerial refuelling and associated basing. The F35C should have lower tanker demand than the F35A.
The F-35C weighs more empty than the F-35A by a couple of tons. That is a lot of extra titanium/aluminum/composites to buy, machine, and assemble. There is also the added cost of the wing folding device and increased LO maintenance due to a larger wing.
Let's not forget that the C would lose a chunk of it's range when the gun is put back.
The CTOL (A) is lighter,more maneuverable. It pulls 9gs vs 7.5gs for the CV (C). The CV's big wing is as much about low speed aerodynamics for carrier ops as it is about the fuel it can carry. Bottom line: The CTOL is more of a fighter on the strike-fighter spectrum.
Coming Soon to a airshow near you :)
ReplyDeleteAnyone want to start a pool on when it gets the Blue and Yellow?
i'm just surprised LM hasn't done it up that way...they did it with the Thunderbird colors.
ReplyDeletebut to be serious we'll see a single ship demo long before we'll see it take over the Blue Angels slot.
Hello Solomon,
ReplyDeleteI can't understand why the United States' Air Force isn't buying the F35C.
On every operation over the last 30 years,the F35C would have been more useful than the F35A.
I can understand why the Marines want the F35B,but what is the point of the F35A?
GrandLogistics.
Costs 10-15 million less to buy and less to maintain. Multiply that over 1700+ and you see the point.
ReplyDeleteThe F-35C has the rand it does due to removing the gun and having the large wing. Put the gun back and you now have less range than the F-35A.
Hello Spudman Wp,
Deleteyou are right about the cost but surely the main reason the F35A costs less is because it is being produced in larger numbers?
Wouldn't the F35C cost substantially less if it 2,000+ of them were being bought for the Air Force,Navy and Marines?
One of the largest cost factors in air warfare is the provision of aerial refuelling and associated basing.
The F35C should have lower tanker demand than the F35A.
GrandLogistics.
The F-35C weighs more empty than the F-35A by a couple of tons. That is a lot of extra titanium/aluminum/composites to buy, machine, and assemble. There is also the added cost of the wing folding device and increased LO maintenance due to a larger wing.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that the C would lose a chunk of it's range when the gun is put back.
The CTOL (A) is lighter,more maneuverable. It pulls 9gs vs 7.5gs for the CV (C). The CV's big wing is as much about low speed aerodynamics for carrier ops as it is about the fuel it can carry. Bottom line: The CTOL is more of a fighter on the strike-fighter spectrum.
ReplyDelete