F-35 behind and increasing in cost. Surprise!

[frigidmagi]

NYT

[quote]The Joint Strike Fighter was supposed to be the program that broke the mold, proof that the Pentagon could build something affordable, dependable and without much drama.

But rather than being the Chevrolet of the skies, as it was once billed, the fighter plane, also called the F-35, has turned into the Pentagon’s biggest budget-buster. And with worries growing that the rise in costs could overwhelm other programs, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates fired the general in charge this week and said he would withhold $614 million in fees from the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin.

The decision was an embarrassment for Lockheed Martin, the nation’s largest military contractor, which could eventually draw at least a quarter of its sales from the F-35. But Pentagon officials said they wanted to make sure they avoided the kind of death spiral that had caused so many other weapons programs to collapse.

The Air Force, the Navy and the Marines are planning to buy more than 2,400 of the planes. But any delays could force them to spend billions of dollars on less advanced fighters to avoid a shortfall. That, in turn, would reduce their orders for the F-35, driving up the price for each plane and forcing them to cut orders further.

The main problem, some analysts say, is that even with recent improvements in acquisition practices, the military persists in buying new weapons systems before all the kinks are worked out.

At the Pentagon’s behest, Lockheed Martin has already started building production models of the F-35, even though only 2 percent of the flight test program has been completed. “Unless they convert the program to a fly-before-you-buy approach, they will continue to have pain,â€

[SirNitram]

I really don't get why some put F-22's and F-35's in the same comments. They're not the same jobs. I don't compare a Lancester bomber to a P-51 Mustang!

Not against Frigid, just against people doing said stupid thing.

[frigidmagi]

I do it because Mr . Gates specifically made a point in his own words that he felt the F-22 was a waste of cash because he had the F-35 coming up. Another reason not to have a spook in charge of the military.

We should have more F-35's then F-22s. I don't think anyone who isn't a lightweight is arguing that. That said Gates clearly shot a large chunk of hippie happy smoke up Congress' ass over this and deserves to get some return fire.