F-35 in new dogfight over Chinese, Russian stealth fighter advances - Page 3

Dowly · 01-18-15, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

the problem with all these calculations and trying to get a straight answer (including the F35) is that everyone calculates costs differently.

The solution is to take for example the "fly away" prices and compare those:

F/A-18 Super Hornet: $65.3 million
F-35A: $113 million
F-35B: $139 million
F-35C: $130 million

All prices are from 2013.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

The F/A-18s bought by Australia in 2007 worked out to $141 million apiece.

But that deal included support & training for 10 years, didn't it?

Bilge_Rat · 01-18-15, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

But that deal included support & training for 10 years, didn't it?

I will have to track down where I got the $141 million figure from, maybe I am remembering wrong.

The original contract for 24 aircraft was for AUS 2.9 billion, roughly U.S. $2.4 billion which works out to about U.S. $ 100 million apiece. With training and support, the price tag went up AUS 6 billion, roughly U.S. $5.1 billion which works out to about U.S. $210 million per unit.

Stealhead · 01-18-15, 04:52 PM

Most contracts for military aircraft also include training of aircrews as well as mainmaintenance personal as well as spare parts and in many cases armaments as well. So I'm betting the price you say was the "total" unit cost. Of course this means that the total unit cost for an F-35 is going to be substantially higher than that of an F-18.

Oberon · 01-18-15, 06:15 PM

I'd be surprised if it wasn't, an F-35 has a lot more systems to it than an F-18. I won't knock it, it's a good bird, just...very troublesome and ridiculously priced.

Then again, the Harrier wasn't the most reliable of machines when it first rolled out either...just a bit cheaper though.

nikimcbee · 01-22-15, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Most contracts for military aircraft also include training of aircrews as well as mainmaintenance personal as well as spare parts and in many cases armaments as well. So I'm betting the price you say was the "total" unit cost. Of course this means that the total unit cost for an F-35 is going to be substantially higher than that of an F-18.

That's the DX version.
Leather interior...CD player...cup holders.

Tango589 · 01-22-15, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

That's the DX version.
Leather interior...CD player...cup holders.

Sounds like it could also do with 'go-faster' stripes!

01-18-15, 04:52 PM	#33
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Most contracts for military aircraft also include training of aircrews as well as mainmaintenance personal as well as spare parts and in many cases armaments as well. So I'm betting the price you say was the "total" unit cost. Of course this means that the total unit cost for an F-35 is going to be substantially higher than that of an F-18.

01-18-15, 06:15 PM	#34
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	I'd be surprised if it wasn't, an F-35 has a lot more systems to it than an F-18. I won't knock it, it's a good bird, just...very troublesome and ridiculously priced. Then again, the Harrier wasn't the most reliable of machines when it first rolled out either...just a bit cheaper though.