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F-35B/C Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter)

Swanee

Cereal Killer
pilot
None
Contributor
Not really sure what they expect to get out of a cost review, though. The AFO replacement can maybe refine requirements, but what makes it expensive is it's comms and connectivity and survivability requirements. It doesn't exactly have gold-plated toilets. F-35 costs are already coming down as the production process matures. It's not like they'll just agree to take less money for the work - government contracts don't work like that. If you got what you ordered, you're obliged to pay what you agreed to pay. This isn't like stiffing a plumber; Boeing and L-M have their own lawyers and the USG wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on.

Another interesting point is that we're taking delivery of airplanes that were ordered 10 years ago. Look at the AF tailnumbers coming off the line- the first two numbers are the year it was ordered/paid for- they are all 07-09 numbers. We're in a lot deeper than people seem to think.
 

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
So is the plan for F-35s to single site at Lemoore? I'm pretty surprised there are no plans to have them at Oceana.
 

Llarry

Well-Known Member
If Lemoore only over the long term, that would leave CVW-5 without F-35C. Or with a slightly awkward Lemoore unit deploying directly to Japan periodically...
 

Llarry

Well-Known Member
With all due respect to Python, I have come to believe that what is going on here is a tap dance around the subj of puting F-35Cs in LANT. Budget info indicates that there will be 18 deploying F-35C VFA: 4 Marine Corps and 14 Navy. Of 14 Navy, 7 at Lemoore, presumably 2 at Iwakuni and 5 at a LANT location TBD. Presumably the Navy, unconstrained by outside issues such as encroachment, politics, environmental impact and the like, would prefer that location to be at a location that rhyme with Smosheanna. I suspect the locals would prefer another LANT location in, say, Greenland.
 

Python

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
@Llarry Lemoore. Japan as well after that. Should not have said “Lemoore only” before as that was misleading. It will be a long while before the east coast (probably Oceana), but will eventually get there. I know what I’m talking about.
 

Llarry

Well-Known Member
@Llarry Lemoore. Japan as well after that. Should not have said “Lemoore only” before as that was misleading. It will be a long while before the east coast (probably Oceana), but will eventually get there. I know what I’m talking about.

No doubt of your latter, Python. I'm not at all up on Oceana local issues but figured that was part of the story. Perhaps a low production rate is also a factor. And I think my numbers per location are off by one as I counted the RAG at Lemoore. So maybe ultimately (deploying squadrons only) 6 Lemoore, 2 Japan, 6 LANT and 4 Marine...

Speaking of production rates:
1944 deliveries: 3,130 Easter FM Wildcats, 5,380 Vought Corsairs and 6,140 Grumman Hellcats plus a few F7Fs, I think. No wonder they pushed them over the side when the ashtray got full!
March 1945: Grumman produces 605 F6Fs in one month.
 

zippy

Freedom!
pilot
Contributor
No doubt of your latter, Python. I'm not at all up on Oceana local issues but figured that was part of the story.

CAJN is going to be real fired up when louder, single engine jets start showing up...

Hornets crashing into buildings in Va beach in recent history haven’t been hurting their arguement either...
 

wlawr005

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
By "proven, basic design" Boeing means Strike Eagles. They closed the C line years ago. However, I was just there last week and saw plenty of brand new FMS E models sitting on the show room floor.

If anything, I learned Boeing is a business and can/will sell you anything you pay for.
 
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