As drones rise, a manned fighter falls

[xchrom]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/NC28Dj03.html

SYDNEY - The world's biggest international defense project, the United States-designed F-35 strike-fighter aircraft, was put on probation by international partners at a formal meeting held this month in Sydney, Australia.

Responding to the latest in a series of cost increases and delivery delays, representatives from the Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and the United Kingdom have all threatened to pull out of the project unless the Pentagon and lead private contractor Lockheed Martin can deliver the fighter plane more quickly and cheaply.

The trouble started on February 13 when the US Department of Defense's Comptroller released detailed projections of future Pentagon spending which revealed cuts in planned US purchases
of the F-35 fighter as well as related cost increases in the fiscal period spanning 2013- 17.

The 2012 price of the US Air Force version of the F-35 aircraft is almost US$197 million, three times the plane's original projected cost. By postponing the ramp up to mass production, the Pentagon in effect confirmed that the F-35 will not be available in the near-term at a cost allies are willing to pay.

[unhappycamper]

1. It's (almost) Dead, Jim

About fricking time.

I really need to start talking about $7 billion dollar Virginia-class submarines. $16~$40 billion dollar Ford-class aircraft carriers, $5 billion dollar Zumwalt-class destroyers and $500+ million dollar Littoral combat Ships.

[xchrom]

2. & the drone. They ain't cheap either. Nt

[Angleae]

5. Zumwalts are done too.

The only two that will ever be built were started in 2009 & 2010.

[MicaelS]

3. There's always the Eurofighter Typhoon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurofighter_Typhoon

Already in service, and with over 100,000 flight hours according to Wikipedia.

[xchrom]

4. I think that's the 1 India went w/. Nt

[Unaccountable]

6. Spam deleted by gkhouston (MIR Team)