F-35 not going to be cheap again

weasel1962 SG

As a continuation of the previous thread at
http://www.sgforums.com/forums/1164/topics/337423

Canada buying 65 F-35As for ~C$9b (S$11.7b) which does not include maintenance cost. This equates to ~S$180m per fighter.

The F-15E is indicated to cost US$100m each (or S$140m). I estimate rsaf bought the F-15SG for S$175m each.

RSAF requirement will probably include replacement of 1-2 sqn of F-5s and 3 sqn of F-16s. I'm not sure if a 1 for 1 replacement would now be affordable.

12-16 F-15SGs have the equivalent capability of 50+ F-5s.

The F-15SE is the stealth version of the F-15SG.

weasel1962 SG

LM explanation (Farnborough press conference) of how the C$9 bil is derived. ~1/2 goes to airplane. 1/2 to training, infrastructure but does not include maintenance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seyzsHcKf5I

touchstone_2000 SG

The maintenance is going to be a killer, as the entire unit is to be done at LM's appointed depot level.

Yes, RSAF / ST techs will not be allowed service some parts. If the depot is not in Singapore, we will have to ship the plane. I think likely location of the depot will be in S Korea / Japan.

Note in Europe, the depot is in Italy.

All the more reason to buy C-17.

weasel1962 SG

The ALGS is a centralised management system that is supposed to ships parts on a jit basis to maintenance locations rather than bring the plane back.

It would be terrible if the restriction applies. Not so much the freight cost but the downtime will be a lot more significant. Need to pack the plane, ship, unpack, service, re-pack, ship and unpack. Can't see dsta accepting that.

Would be cheaper just to send the tech down to paya lebar and get them to service on-site.

The estimates of the added maintenance cost are ~C$7b (which brings it pretty close to my original estimate of US$25b for 100 F-35s).

Arapahoe SG

The maintenance is going to be a killer, as the entire unit is to be done at LM's appointed depot level.

Yes, RSAF / ST techs will not be allowed service some parts. If the depot is not in Singapore, we will have to ship the plane. I think likely location of the depot will be in S Korea / Japan.

Note in Europe, the depot is in Italy.

All the more reason to buy C-17.

would it make sense that the maintenance depot be located in say down under as compared to Japan/Korea given that they are wayang hot and cold with neighbors?

and i presume that is peace time scenario.

touchstone_2000 SG

The stratospheric price tag of the F-35 remind me of the good old days of A-4 and F-5 generation.

These are the aircraft that you can reasonably afford or allowed to buy. F-14 and F-15 are exclusive. Make me wonder why don't we continue with F-15 / F-16 until some sanity is in pricing is restored?

I don't think we will ever consider using Typhoon, Rafale or Gripen. Especially since they fail the pre-requisite test and some have current model F-15 features still in development stage.

Stratigically, we may lose an edge as the opfor/s may start ordering high end models of Sukhois

Please hold back the KS syndrome..

weasel1962 SG

$137m each for Israel.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4747335&c=AIR&s=TOP

Shotgun SG

The stratospheric price tag of the F-35 remind me of the good old days of A-4 and F-5 generation.

I don't think we will ever consider using Typhoon, Rafale or Gripen. Especially since they fail the pre-requisite test and some have current model F-15 features still in development stage.

Stratigically, we may lose an edge as the opfor/s may start ordering high end models of Sukhois

Please hold back the KS syndrome..

Eh? Who told you they fail all the pre-requisite test?

storywolf SG

The stratospheric price tag of the F-35 remind me of the good old days of A-4 and F-5 generation.

I don't think we will ever consider using Typhoon, Rafale or Gripen. Especially since they fail the pre-requisite test and some have current model F-15 features still in development stage.

Stratigically, we may lose an edge as the opfor/s may start ordering high end models of Sukhois

Please hold back the KS syndrome..

Don't think any of these fighters Typhoon, Rafale failed the any requisite test. Think they perform well in test. Just that $ + delivery + other factors - F-15 was the practical choice at that time.