This is a discussion on Is this just a rumor? within the Air Force & Aviation forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; Supposedly the Pentagon is considering delaying some of the F-35s to be bought from now until 2015. But I can't ...
Supposedly the Pentagon is considering delaying some of the F-35s to be bought from now until 2015. But I can't tell if this is just another stupid rumor written up by someone or if this is real.
The numbers given for the reduction will just bring the numbers down to the original schedule (before last spring's Gate's acceleration plans) from last spring.
Yet it's a serious drawback to the US military as their inventory of combat aircraft is depleting at alarming rates. In this case it would have been better to buy some additional F-22 to replace some more F-15. I think the USN is in the best position here as it receives just a few more F/A-18E/F, but there are no plans to replace USAF aircraft with anything else but F-35 and for the USMC there is no really viable alternative to the Harrier.
The numbers given for the reduction will just bring the numbers down to the original schedule (before last spring's Gate's acceleration plans) from last spring.
But how does that help the air force or the F-35 program? Seems like they take a step forward then take two steps back.
What has congress have to say?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scorpion82
Yet it's a serious drawback to the US military as their inventory of combat aircraft is depleting at alarming rates. In this case it would have been better to buy some additional F-22 to replace some more F-15. I think the USN is in the best position here as it receives just a few more F/A-18E/F, but there are no plans to replace USAF aircraft with anything else but F-35 and for the USMC there is no really viable alternative to the Harrier.
I know I thought they were accelerating the F-35 because of stopping the F-22 at 187 jets, now they want to delay the F-35 too?
Damn politicians, their worthless.
The USMC could always buy some F/A-18 Super Hornets to replace their old F-18s. The harrier should be good for many years yet but still they need the F-35s.
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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
Lets remember that this is supposedly an idea, these things get thrown around a bit. The too much money has been put into the F-35 in order for the pentagon not to buy them till 2015
Lets remember that this is supposedly an idea, these things get thrown around a bit. The too much money has been put into the F-35 in order for the pentagon not to buy them till 2015
No final decision and no official statement on this issue.
But yeah that makes no sense, first Gates stops production of the F-22 at 187 jets and wants to accelerate the F-35 to replace the F-15 and F-16, which sounds fine and all but then wants to delay 122 of those jets until 2015? WTF something smells fishy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feanor
Well there is the money issue. As is the defense budget is approaching a trillion dollars. How much do you want to spend?
Money is not the issue, I'm not saying poor more into the defense budget, I just don't get if they are already spending billions on the F-35, yet nothing gets done.
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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
I say wait and see, America needs active 5th generation fighters because Russia plans for the PAK FA to be put in full production as soon as it 'comes out'
I say wait and see, America needs active 5th generation fighters because Russia plans for the PAK FA to be put in full production as soon as it 'comes out'
Yeah so far even if the supposed plan goes along, they still plan on buying 2456 F-35s no cuts to the overall numbers, just need more testing...which they need to hurry up with the testing already, it should not take 20 god damn years just to test a new fighter.
I don't want to see the F-35 go the way of the F-22..a never ending death spiral which having only 300 F-35s instead of 2400+ and cost 2 billion a plane.
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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) on Wednesday said it was continuing work to sharply reduce the costs of the F-35 fighter and did not believe the program was in trouble despite a report that the Pentagon will cut production of 122 airplanes through 2015.
Lockheed spokesman Chris Geisel said the company was running about four to six months late on finishing the final four of 19 developmental aircraft, which in turn prevented completion of all the flight tests planned by the end of 2009.
He said the gap was narrowing between Pentagon and Lockheed projections about the cost and time required to complete the development program.
Senior Lockheed officials were meeting this week with top Pentagon officials to hammer out a final plan for funding the program in fiscal 2011 and the coming years, Geisel said.
"Much of the information that's recently been reported is pre-decisional and we continue to work with the (Office of the Secretary of Defense) to come to resolution," he said.
He said the possible changes being discussed would not affect the U.S. government's plan to buy a total 2,443 F-35s for the three military services, or the dates that the services have set for starting to use the new fighter jets.
"The program is not in trouble. We are a little behind on delivery of the (system design and development) aircraft, about six months, but the rest of the aircraft will be delivered within the next four to six months."
Bloomberg on Wednesday reported that Defense Secretary Robert Gates directed the military in a December 23 budget memorandum to delay the F-35 program, cutting planned purchases by 10 aircraft in fiscal 2011 and a total of 122 through 2015.
Gates cut the planned purchase of F-35s by 10 planes in 2011 to 42; by 17 in 2012 to 45; by 52 in 2013 to 77; by 20 in 2014 to 90; and 23 in 2015 to 107, Bloomberg said, citing the document.
No comment was immediately available from the Pentagon's F-35 office.
It said the Pentagon would use more than $2.8 billion that was budgeted earlier to buy the military's next-generation fighter would instead be used to continue its development.
If the plan is approved the money would be used to complete flight testing more quickly and work on other issues, such as software development, said one source familiar with the issue, who was not authorized to speak publicly.
But he said that the Pentagon could potentially add back in the production airplanes if Lockheed and the program were able to beat their cost and schedule targets.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; editing by Carol Bishopric)
________________
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) on Wednesday said it was continuing work to sharply reduce the costs of the F-35 fighter and did not believe the program was in trouble despite a report that the Pentagon will cut production of 122 airplanes through 2015.
Lockheed spokesman Chris Geisel said the company was running about four to six months late on finishing the final four of 19 developmental aircraft, which in turn prevented completion of all the flight tests planned by the end of 2009.
He said the gap was narrowing between Pentagon and Lockheed projections about the cost and time required to complete the development program.
Senior Lockheed officials were meeting this week with top Pentagon officials to hammer out a final plan for funding the program in fiscal 2011 and the coming years, Geisel said.
"Much of the information that's recently been reported is pre-decisional and we continue to work with the (Office of the Secretary of Defense) to come to resolution," he said.
He said the possible changes being discussed would not affect the U.S. government's plan to buy a total 2,443 F-35s for the three military services, or the dates that the services have set for starting to use the new fighter jets.
"The program is not in trouble. We are a little behind on delivery of the (system design and development) aircraft, about six months, but the rest of the aircraft will be delivered within the next four to six months."
Bloomberg on Wednesday reported that Defense Secretary Robert Gates directed the military in a December 23 budget memorandum to delay the F-35 program, cutting planned purchases by 10 aircraft in fiscal 2011 and a total of 122 through 2015.
Gates cut the planned purchase of F-35s by 10 planes in 2011 to 42; by 17 in 2012 to 45; by 52 in 2013 to 77; by 20 in 2014 to 90; and 23 in 2015 to 107, Bloomberg said, citing the document.
No comment was immediately available from the Pentagon's F-35 office.
It said the Pentagon would use more than $2.8 billion that was budgeted earlier to buy the military's next-generation fighter would instead be used to continue its development.
If the plan is approved the money would be used to complete flight testing more quickly and work on other issues, such as software development, said one source familiar with the issue, who was not authorized to speak publicly.
But he said that the Pentagon could potentially add back in the production airplanes if Lockheed and the program were able to beat their cost and schedule targets.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; editing by Carol Bishopric)
Given the priority being accorded this program and the urgent need to replace obscelescent/time expired airframes, this is a big decision. And probably shows the state of the US budget woes at the moment. Still, it does possibly allow another nation - Japan? to pinch these production slots. Maybe we can get some of ours a little sooner - even with the superbugs I think we are still cutting things close in terms of airframe life on the remaining legacy Hornets.
Given the priority being accorded this program and the urgent need to replace obscelescent/time expired airframes, this is a big decision. And probably shows the state of the US budget woes at the moment. Still, it does possibly allow another nation - Japan? to pinch these production slots. Maybe we can get some of ours a little sooner - even with the superbugs I think we are still cutting things close in terms of airframe life on the remaining legacy Hornets.
I can't see them allowing the USAF to fall apart, They must know they need to replace their F-15/16s and the F-35 is the only 5th generation fight in production now, well except for the F-22 which shuts down in 2011.
So why did they cap the F-22 again?
________________
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
I can't see them allowing the USAF to fall apart, They must know they need to replace their F-15/16s and the F-35 is the only 5th generation fight in production now, well except for the F-22 which shuts down in 2011.
So why did they cap the F-22 again?
More expensive, less flexible, aged digital architecture. Imagine how few aircraft you'd be buying if you kept the F-22 line open as well as tried to fund the F-35 concurrently.
Is this just a rumor? 
