http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/02/01/gates-fires-jsf-program-manager/
I wonder what this portends for the program?
I wonder what this portends for the program?
http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/02/01/gates-fires-jsf-program-manager/
I wonder what this portends for the program?
http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/02/01/gates-fires-jsf-program-manager/
I wonder what this portends for the program?
That article referred to a second engine. Does that mean a second contractor for the engine (competition drives down costs), or a twin-engine JSF?
There are two US engine heavyweights: Pratt&Whitney and General Electric. Both proposed motors for JSF.
They always end up head to head and a second engine source has been proposed (by Congressional leaders whose district has the factory that makes the alternative motor) to lower risk and use competition to keep price as low as possible. This has been successful in the F-15 and F-16, which can be equipped with either the P&W or GE engines.
Anyone notice it is Vice Admiral Dave Venlet (currently NAVAIRSYSCOM who had plans to retire this summer) who SECDEF asked to take over?
The companies are not funding the development costs for these engines, the government is. How do you figure the F- 136 is an outstanding motor, it is not even running at this time and only has a few hours ground testing completed? The F-135 engine has been testing since `97.Particularly when these companies use their own fundage to pay for the R&D costs incurred. Both are outstanding motors. IMHO, it wouldn't hurt to purchase a few GE F-136s. Not sure why Gates is so vehemently against it.