F-35 - the most expensive weapon in history - $1.7 trillion

[Walter]

The F-35 is the most expensive weapon in history, with a projected lifetime cost of $1.7 trillion. That’s more than Russia’s GDP, all spent on a single-seat plane. In fact, if this aircraft were a country, its GDP would rank 11th in the world, ahead of Saudi Arabia.

And its a complete failure:
https://thehill.com/opinion/nationa...tells-everything-thats-broken-in-the-pentagon

 

[Nathan Jenkins]

I'm a firm believer in the need for a strong military but that's mind-boggling isn't it? The cost of one project is comparable to the entire market cap of the largest corporations in the the world...

You think they could've watched the overtime a bit or something?

 

[Walter]

Its not only the budget:

"The plane is superfluous. It was devised as a flying Swiss Army knife that could meet the needs of the Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army. Instead, it proves the adage that a camel is a horse designed by committee. It is true that the F-35 can engage in dogfights, drop bombs and spy — just not well. Older aircraft remain better than F-35s at all these tasks"

 

[Tinkerpeach]

The F-35is not meant to be a stand alone aircraft rather it’s a part of a larger defense strategy and for that it does what other aircraft cannot.

The plane is linked directly to ground forces or ships or other planes and essentially directed what to do as part of a defensive or offensive attack.

They went with one base model because it ultimately is easier to reproduce, fix, and maintain then multiple different aircraft.

Yes there have been extensive problems but that is due to the advanced computer technology they are using now and of course it will take them a long time to get it right because it’s a complete overhaul of our military.

 

[jbander]

The F-35is not meant to be a stand alone aircraft rather it’s a part of a larger defense strategy and for that it does what other aircraft cannot.

The plane is linked directly to ground forces or ships or other planes and essentially directed what to do as part of a defensive or offensive attack.

They went with one base model because it ultimately is easier to reproduce, fix, and maintain then multiple different aircraft.

Yes there have been extensive problems but that is due to the advanced computer technology they are using now and of course it will take them a long time to get it right because it’s a complete overhaul of our military.

And this is normal

 

[Tinkerpeach]

And this is normal

Not the degree this plane does it.

It is not meant to be a stand alone weapon so of course other planes can beat it in that regard. In a real fight however those other planes would be dead before they knew the 35 was even there.

 

[jbander]

Not the degree this plane does it.

It is not meant to be a stand alone weapon so of course other planes can beat it in that regard. In a real fight however those other planes would be dead before they knew the 35 was even there.

Couldn't see the last comment in your post, I was just responding to this"They went with one base model because it ultimately is easier to reproduce, fix, and maintain then multiple different aircraft." as in "And this is normal" The system once implemented is with a technology that is clearly ahead of the rest of the world and is a better approach then just matching Planes because other countries are closer in technology as far as that is concerned. We will stay further ahead in Tech. over design of the air frame in the future

 

[Tinkerpeach]

Couldn't see the last comment in your post, I was just responding to this"They went with one base model because it ultimately is easier to reproduce, fix, and maintain then multiple different aircraft." as in "And this is normal" The system once implemented is with a technology that is clearly ahead of the rest of the world and is a better approach then just matching Planes because other countries are closer in technology as far as that is concerned. We will stay further ahead in Tech. over design of the air frame in the future

The 35 is probably going to be the last main fighter that is manned. It just doesn’t make sense cost wise when drones will be just as good. The 35 operates pretty much on its own the way it is and a person can’t actually fly it at all without the computer.