U.S. Joint Strike Fighter Behind Schedule, Costs Swelling:
Report
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2625520&C=america
Costs for the Joint Strike Fighter, a new generation of attack
aircraft for the U.S. armed forces and its allies, have swollen 12
percent per aircraft, according to a U.S. government report March
15.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) also said the program
for the U.S. Department of Defenses target to acquire 2,400 JSF
jets by 2027 is well behind schedule and should be slowed to avoid
rushing through flight testing and other development
processes.
Total JSF program acquisition costs (through 2027) have increased
by 31.6 billion dollars, the GAO said, meaning a 12 percent cost
hike per aircraft from 2004 estimates.
The JSF program proposes to replace several different
earlier-generation aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine
Corps with the new Lockheed Martin-produced X-35.
GAO noted the program has experienced delays in starting the flight
test program, delivery of the first development aircraft, and the
testing of critical missions systems.
Despite these delays, the program still plans to complete
development in 2013, compressing the amount of time available for
flight testing and development activities.
GAO proposed limiting production targets to only 24 X-35s per year
until each variants basic flying qualities have been demonstrated
in flight testing.
But it noted that the Defense Department opposes adjusting the
current schedule.
Besides the orders for the U.S. militarys own needs, some
2,000-3,000 JSFs have been tentatively ordered by other
countries.
Nations taking part in the JSF program include Canada, Italy, the
Netherlands, Great Britain, Turkey, Denmark, Norway, and
Australia.
Related link:
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2625520&C=america
So the question now is....is RSAF still interested in the
F-35?
