F-35 Fiasco

[jackfengshui]

Let's stop arguing about whether to spend $5,000 on educating inmates and talk about something involving "real" money - the F-35 fighter jet, the costliest weapons program in Pentagon history.

The so-called Joint Strike Fighter has been touted as a technological wonder that will dominate the skies, but it has suffered one setback after another, putting the project 7 years behind schedule and $167 billion over budget.

As a one-size-fits-all plane, and with US allies invited to take part, the program originally was touted as a money-saving idea. Instead, because of the huge cost overrun, the Pentagon has been forced to scale back its ambitions and plans to build only 2,443 aircraft, with each plane costing a staggering $160 million, at a total price tag of $391.2 billion (but nobody believes that would not be further escalated).

When taking into account the cost of flying and maintaining the F-35 over the course of its life, the total cost of the program could surpass $1 trillion.

The program has also been plagued with technical problems. The 24 million lines of code for the plane's software have posed a persistent headache, and the jet has yet to attain the promised level of performance and reliability.

Nobody is happy, but this fiasco appears to be too late to turn back and too big to fail.

[JohnnyCap]

I'm sure all the staff have been paid though. They should be in prison getting an education.

[rke324]

Originally Posted by jackfengshui

The program has also been plagued with technical problems. The 24 million lines of code for the plane's software have posed a persistent headache, and the jet has yet to attain the promised level of performance and reliability.

Sounds like the same IT techs involved with the Obamacare website were involved here as well. Problem after problem and they look at each other and .

[drluv1]

Originally Posted by jackfengshui

Let's stop arguing about whether to spend $5,000 on educating inmates and talk about something involving "real" money - the F-35 fighter jet, the costliest weapons program in Pentagon history.

The so-called Joint Strike Fighter has been touted as a technological wonder that will dominate the skies, but it has suffered one setback after another, putting the project 7 years behind schedule and $167 billion over budget.

As a one-size-fits-all plane, and with US allies invited to take part, the program originally was touted as a money-saving idea. Instead, because of the huge cost overrun, the Pentagon has been forced to scale back its ambitions and plans to build only 2,443 aircraft, with each plane costing a staggering $160 million, at a total price tag of $391.2 billion (but nobody believes that would not be further escalated).

When taking into account the cost of flying and maintaining the F-35 over the course of its life, the total cost of the program could surpass $1 trillion.

The program has also been plagued with technical problems. The 24 million lines of code for the plane's software have posed a persistent headache, and the jet has yet to attain the promised level of performance and reliability.

Nobody is happy, but this fiasco appears to be too late to turn back and too big to fail.

I'm sure the defense contractors are quite happy with the situation. The lack of a response from our conservative friends is hardly surprising. The pentagon has been working on a new accounting system since 2004 and that program is 8 billion over budget and we still have no accounting from the pentagon on how we spend 20% of the budget. WHERE"S THE OUTRAGE!!

[JohnnyCap]

Originally Posted by drluv1

WHERE"S THE OUTRAGE!!

Blowing a vet.

[jackfengshui]

Here is a more in-depth article on the F-35 "Lightning": http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2...ockheed-martin

If you don't have the time or don't want to be too depressed, here is the preface:

"The Joint Strike Fighter is the most expensive weapons system ever developed. It is plagued by design flaws and cost overruns. It flies only in good weather. The computers that run it lack the software they need for combat. No one can say for certain when the plane will work as advertised. Until recently, the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, was operating with a free hand—paid handsomely for its own mistakes. Looking back, even the general now in charge of the program can’t believe how we got to this point. In sum: all systems go!"

BTW, drluv1 had a thread on this earlier in the National Forum.

[b1ttrsw33t]

I know the Air Force and navy were complaining about the marines waiting it to have VTOL capability. Neither care for or want it. Just like the Air Force doesn't need every one of its f-35s to have carrier landing capabilities. I can't remember where but the army was having the same problem with congress. The don't want anymore Abrams tanks but certain senators don't want to loose those contracts in their states. Watch the movie pentagon wars for a dramatized version of how things work.

[richguy2851]

Maybe we could give the "young's bucks" at MIT or Cal Tech a go at it. After all, they've been using super weapons on a screen for years. Then again, just fly it out of war situations and in good weather. It's good enough for government work.

[vanscrew303rd]

I hate to say it, but with Pre WW2 Military levels being proposed, we my need the F-35 just to keep our own borders safe.

[JohnnyCap]

Originally Posted by vanscrew303rd

I hate to say it, but with Pre WW2 Military levels being proposed, we my need the F-35 just to keep our own borders safe.

Wouldn't that be clutching an anchor when the ship is sinking? How can we need something that doesn't work?

[J.J. Walker]

America,

[jokacz]

Originally Posted by vanscrew303rd

I hate to say it, but with Pre WW2 Military levels being proposed, we my need the F-35 just to keep our own borders safe.

From who?

The latest Republican boogey man?

I'm more worried about Canadians armed with credit cards.

And so, it seems, is the TSA.

[Guest070916]

Originally Posted by jokacz

From who?

The latest Republican boogey man?

Exactly!!!!
We used to have some real boogey man in the past, the Ruskies and the Red China.

Now the Ruskies are history and Republicans and their 'handlers' in business are in bed with the commies in Red China, so they have to create new boogey men, a bunch of Arabs terrorists that THEY created in the first fucking place!!!!

Doesn't take much to make Republicans crap their pants....LOL
Besides the main Republican special interest is the Military Industrial Complex who makes their money from Republicans spreading fear and paranoia.... always has!!!

[montana1958]

Anyone ever see Canadian Bacon with John Candy and an all start cast? based in Niagara falls on the US side? A great area movie which I highly recommend all WNY'ers see.

Republican or Democrat, That movie is our current country.

[offshoredrilling]

Originally Posted by Celso

Exactly!!!!
We used to have some real boogey man in the past, the Ruskies and the Red China.

Now the Ruskies are history and Republicans and their 'handlers' in business are in bed with the commies in Red China, so they have to create new boogey men, a bunch of Arabs terrorists that THEY created in the first fucking place!!!!

Doesn't take much to make Republicans crap their pants....LOL
Besides the main Republican special interest is the Military Industrial Complex who makes their money from Republicans spreading fear and paranoia.... always has!!!

actually both sides Dem and Rep will vote to spend money on military industrial complex if its in there state.