Loren Thompson’s message: Don’t slow down production of F-35, or else

Loren Thompson of the industry-funded (and LM is a contributor) think tank “The Lexington Institute” posits that government policymakers drive the cost of each F-35. Thompson says “the most common version [F-35A] of the plane can be produced for about the same amount of money as the latest F-16 or F/A-18 fighter while delivering far greater survivability and situational awareness if policymakers stick with the business plan [italics his].”

http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/policymakers-drive-the-cost-of-each-f-35-not-contractors?a=1&c=1171

Israel rejects F-35 offer / Italy may reduce F-35 buy

US ties F-35I sale to new Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories: Netanyahu says nyet.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a3b183249-43c3-4131-91c9-f3009c719658t

Italy may reduce F-35B buy:

http://defensetech.org/2010/12/08/italy-considers-cutting-its-f-35b-purchase/

Interesting comparison for perspective sake: FY11 EA-18 Growler Unit Procurement Cost = about $90m. FY10’s LRIP IV ‘victory buy’, will hopefully be released in Feb 2011 will probably see it’s final Unit Procurement Cost north of $170m.

Remember that the Growler / Grizzly is a specialized aircraft with a much smaller production run and equipped with highly complex electronics….

It was also the “cheapest” option, compared to reopening the EA-6 production line to build new airframes, or an entirely new airframe design. The Navy was able to mitigate some costs / risks by integrating an operational and still-in-production airframe into the design.

The problem is when costs get out of control – as F-35 costs have proven to be – you inevitably end up with fewer airframes than envisioned in the original requirement. In the F-22A situation, politicians reframed the requirement, claiming that the machine was a cold war anachronism. But it was really about cost. The US ended up buying less than 1/3 of the 750 the the USAF wanted (I think they wanted even more in the beginning.) Now the F-35 is in danger of the duplicating the F-22A scenario. It will be interesting to see how politicians justify a more limited buy of F-35’s, but I bet part of the “solution” will revolve around the availability of open production lines for the F-15/16/18’s.

Carter not happy with JSF situation

“We’re not going to pay more for the airplane. There isn’t going to be ever more money.”

Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/12/02/carter-shoves-hard-on-jsf-costs/#ixzz16zQ6kuZo

Boeing targeting F-35 market

Boeing is targeting the F-35 market with the F/A-18E/F in the near term, and the NGAD in the long term.

From AW/Sweetman

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/dti/2010/12/01/DT_12_01_2010_p35-269100.xml&headline=Rivals%20Target%20JSF&next=0

F-135 won’t fit inside C-2 Greyhound COD aircraft

Neither would a F136. The shipping container doesn’t fit through the rear ramp. A MV-22 or a MH-53 could sling load the engine externally, but lack the range of a C-2. The engine will fit if not in its container, but a special rig needs to be devised.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5116756&c=FEA&s=CVS

Navy Times story has more detail about the rotor wash of the MV-22 blowing sailors off the deck:

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/11/navy-jsf-engine-too-big-112910w/

Nonetheless, I hardly see the advantage of just three squadrons of F-35B’s operating from 10-CVN’s. So, somekind of compromise is likely? Really, in my opinion they should just replace the three current USMC Squadrons operating from CVN’s with USN Units. Then just assign a certain percentage of USMC Pilots to USN Squadrons. Just my 2 cents……

The USN isn’t going to allow F-35B to operate from CVN’s – they can’t trap or take a cat shot. The only way a -B comes aboard is in an emergency – they won’t let the -B’s burn up or otherwise abuse the deck.

@Maus,
true, that doesn’t change the fact that the F-22 isn’t that expensive that it couldn’t be bought in larger numbers. It’s a bogus argument that the price alone has terminated the procurement of further F-22s.

The other part of my comment suggested that the F-22’s role is limited to air superiority in an age where the US is facing no other peer air force (at least at the moment.) Some feel that we have enough F-22A’s to guarantee air dominance now, however I don’t – I think another 48 or so would be a good idea. And so is putting AESA radars on all F-15E’s.

I’m curious what is your definition of the political argument?