Cancel the Flawed F-35 America's fighter and attack aircraft fleet is aging. Unfortunately, the only real program in place to address this issue – the F-35 "Lightning II" Joint Strike Fighter – is producing overpriced aircraft with fundamental design problems that will make them inferior weapons. The program should be cancelled. America's current fighter and attack jets should be refurbished, and the military should start new programs that are not excessively expensive. This would provide better national security and free up funds for vital domestic programs. . .
The F-35 program should be canceled. Money should instead be budgeted for extending the life of existing aircraft, and a certain number of new F-16s and F/A-18E/Fs should be purchased in the interim. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), "If equipped with upgraded modern radar, precision weapons, and digital communications — new F-16s and F/A-18s would be sufficiently advanced to meet the threats that the nation is likely to face in the foreseeable future." The savings would be substantial. CBO estimated in 2011 that "net savings would be $78 billion if the entire planned fleet of F-35s – not all of which would be purchased by 2021 – was replaced with F-16s and F/A-18s." However, any potential upgrades to these aircraft should be evaluated by the Pentagon's weapons tester and their costs independently estimated before being advanced. CBO is likely to include a new estimate of savings with this option in its new report on deficit reduction options slated to be released in October.
from CBS: Chris Bogdan: The helmet itself plus the computer system that is used to make the helmet work is more than a half million dollars.
But there have been problems with the helmet and when we visited the Marine Corps station in Yuma, Ariz., a malfunction caused a scheduled flight to be scrubbed.
In fact, on any given day more than half the F-35s on the flight line are liable to be down for maintenance or repairs.
Executives at Lockheed Martin declined our request for an interview and instead sent us this email saying, in part: “We recognize the program has had developmental and cost challenges and we are working with our customers, partners and suppliers to address these challenges.”
Cancel the Flawed F-35
ReplyDeleteAmerica's fighter and attack aircraft fleet is aging. Unfortunately, the only real program in place to address this issue – the F-35 "Lightning II" Joint Strike Fighter – is producing overpriced aircraft with fundamental design problems that will make them inferior weapons. The program should be cancelled. America's current fighter and attack jets should be refurbished, and the military should start new programs that are not excessively expensive. This would provide better national security and free up funds for vital domestic programs. . .
The F-35 program should be canceled. Money should instead be budgeted for extending the life of existing aircraft, and a certain number of new F-16s and F/A-18E/Fs should be purchased in the interim. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), "If equipped with upgraded modern radar, precision weapons, and digital communications — new F-16s and F/A-18s would be sufficiently advanced to meet the threats that the nation is likely to face in the foreseeable future." The savings would be substantial. CBO estimated in 2011 that "net savings would be $78 billion if the entire planned fleet of F-35s – not all of which would be purchased by 2021 – was replaced with F-16s and F/A-18s." However, any potential upgrades to these aircraft should be evaluated by the Pentagon's weapons tester and their costs independently estimated before being advanced. CBO is likely to include a new estimate of savings with this option in its new report on deficit reduction options slated to be released in October.
from CBS:
ReplyDeleteChris Bogdan: The helmet itself plus the computer system that is used to make the helmet work is more than a half million dollars.
But there have been problems with the helmet and when we visited the Marine Corps station in Yuma, Ariz., a malfunction caused a scheduled flight to be scrubbed.
In fact, on any given day more than half the F-35s on the flight line are liable to be down for maintenance or repairs.
Executives at Lockheed Martin declined our request for an interview and instead sent us this email saying, in part: “We recognize the program has had developmental and cost challenges and we are working with our customers, partners and suppliers to address these challenges.”