via Washington Post.
This plane is already in a death spiral. Italy and the Netherlands proves that...the only question is how many in the US order will get cut. The Navy is already signalling that and so will the USAF once they see the performance of the X-47 aboard carriers.
This turkey is already stuffed. It just needs to be stuck in the oven.
Many thought that by now Canada would have decided whether to buy the planes — a move that would help drive down costs in the nearly $400 billion program — or instead force the plane’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, to compete for its business. But it’s now unclear when that will happen.The unreported story that is the cutbacks that the F-35 has already suffered...and will continue to suffer.
Some fear that if nations such as Canada balk, there could be questions about the long-term affordability of the program.Meanwhile, Boeing, one of Lockheed Martin’s fiercest competitors, has pounced on what it sees as an opportunity in Canada and other countries to tout its F/A-18 Super Hornetas a proven, affordable alternative.
Facing budget constraints, Italy and the Netherlands have already curtailed the number of F-35s they said they plan to buy. Denmark is holding a competition that would pit the F-35 against other fighters. Meanwhile, the production line at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant has been limited to a little over 30 the past two years, as tightened U.S. budgets and technical problems have forced the Pentagon to significantly slow its procurement as well.
This plane is already in a death spiral. Italy and the Netherlands proves that...the only question is how many in the US order will get cut. The Navy is already signalling that and so will the USAF once they see the performance of the X-47 aboard carriers.
This turkey is already stuffed. It just needs to be stuck in the oven.
