Cost estimate for F-35 to soar, Pentagon says

[Castout]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

The name is already decided. F-35 Lightning II in honor of both the US P-38 Lighting and the UK English Electric Lighting

I see . . .I still like delayed fighter more...

Bleh for defence or for poorer countries just buy more F-16s . . .latest one isn't so bad.

These stealth features are so obviously for trespassing into hostile airspace.



UAE F-16E

F-16I cost about US$45 million per unit and some mentioned an F-16E may cost 55 million per unit the cheapest. UAE bought 80 of these at the cost of 6.2 billion so that's about 77.5 million per unit INCLUDING spares and other equipment and training and weapons too probably.

If an F-35 would cost 135 million per unit and add to that another say(at the minimum) 50 million for spares, etc and that would make each unit costing a whopping 185 million...so if you wanted say 40 of these it would cost you US$7.4 billion for a mere two squadron strength.
umm and if you wanted 80 of these that would cost US$15 billion.

and I'm sure we remember the times when a fighter would just cost 16 million each...

Then again 15 billion for a 4 squadron super intruder fighter jets is not so bad for a wealthy nation especially when they could give the message 'we can bomb your palace(or your motorcade) without you knowing what hit you'.

[Bubblehead1980]

[QUOTE=Freiwillige;1353675]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

VF-33 1982-1986 U.S.S. America

Cool, Uncle was with VF-31 (and others but that is only one i remember off top of my head) I remember he was an instructor for a while as well with replacement squadron do not remember the number but it was called the reapers or something along that line.Retired as a CAG which from what he told me was a fun assignment. I was working on my pilot's license but sidetracked by college and work, will get it when i have time someday, would kill to take an F-14 up

[Happy Times]

I can recommend a good book to read concerning this spiralling price escalation and commitments, i think many here have read it but for those that havent yet.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ris...e_Great_Powers

[Zachstar]

The F-35 is not meant for deep stealth missions. Its meant to replace the F-16 mainly and be able to go a little deeper into enemy lines or operate in environments like Iraq or Afghanistan. Most of the time anyway it will be carrying external stores.

However the cost is starting to rapidly exceed the worth for those types of missions. Nations are going to want to buy more F-16s for the price of one F-35.

[Platapus]

Quantity has a quality of its own

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Quantity has a quality of its own

^Stalin

"Better is the enemy of good enough"
-Admiral Sergey Georgiyevich Gorshkov

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Quantity has a quality of its own

^ Rosie O'Donnel

[TLAM Strike]

Same difference....

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

^Stalin

"Better is the enemy of good enough"
-Admiral Sergey Georgiyevich Gorshkov

More IL-2s kicked more ass!

But the F-35 cant do the job of 3 F-16s in most situations and in a situation of flat out conventional warfare there wouldn't be enough of em to warrant serious strikes anyway. Like the F-22 the orders will be cut. Those that are built will spend the next few decades being converted into laser craft anyway.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

The F-35 is not meant for deep stealth missions. Its meant to replace the F-16 mainly and be able to go a little deeper into enemy lines or operate in environments like Iraq or Afghanistan. Most of the time anyway it will be carrying external stores.

However the cost is starting to rapidly exceed the worth for those types of missions. Nations are going to want to buy more F-16s for the price of one F-35.

Well just how far behind the FEBA are F-35s expected to strike? M30 GPS rockets can hit out to 30 miles and the MGM-140 can hit out to 180 miles from its launcher. If its more than a few hundred miles let the TACTOM handle it and not put a pilot in danger. In one strike how many targets could one TACTOM equipped SSGN hit? How many could a F-35 equipped CVN hit? All we need is someway of rearming a sub's VLS at sea and carriers might be put out of business. Now if they need to hit really deep in enemy territory this is a serous possibility, lets seem them intercept that!

F-35s are overkill in Iraq or Afghanistan! More drones, gunships and THESE are what we need over there.

[Stealth Hunter]

Why don't we just go back to the old days, when fighting in the air took real skill and mettle...









We managed to kill each other just fine back then. Surely we can still do it with these things now.