Things are worse than we thought with the F-35...dig into they statements before the HASC.

via USNI News.

Military leaders spent two days on Capitol Hill outlining the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program to lawmakers skeptical about the jet’s costs.
“We understand that the F-35 program needs to reduce F-35 operations and supports costs by about one-third to meet service budget goals for affordability,” said Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) on Wednesday.

Reduce operations and support costs for the F-35 by ONE THIRD????

 Why is the F-35 so expensive to keep flying?” asked Sen. Angus King (I-Maine).

A lot of the parts of that aircraft are very expensive. If there a component fails or parts need replacing, the Pentagon has to go to the manufacturer to create new parts. Funding for a components and parts replacement program was included in the pending FY2019 budget, said Vice Adm. Paul Grosklags, the Navy’s commander of Naval Air Systems Command.

The manufacturers must create new parts?

 Controlling maintenance costs has also been a challenge because of problems getting spare parts delivered in time, especially to forward locations. The Autonomic Logistics Information system, known as ALIS, was described by Pentagon officials as being hard to use and requiring the use of contractors for longer periods of time than originally expected.

“There are many things contractors do that our sailors can and should do,” said Rear Adm. Scott Conn, the Navy’s director of air warfare during Wednesday’s hearing.

Contractors are doing work that sailors can and should be doing?

 “Looking back knowing what you know, was it a good idea?” Wicker asked.

“Yes sir, we need that capability. We absolutely need that capability,” Grosklags said. “We needed that capability ten years ago, we still need it today. But we needed it ten years ago. It’s disappointing it’s taken so long to get it to the fleet.”

We needed this capability ten years ago but we STILL need it today? It's disappointing that it took so long to get to the fleet? 


The Pentagon labored hard and have bought themselves the ultimate self licking ice cream cone.

I've long claimed that we're seeing the death spiral now, and this all but confirms it for me.

Remember this plane is operational.

Remember they've had 10 years to drive down the cost trajectory on this thing but have failed.

Remember that the negotiations on the price have continued to drag on.

Remember that Block 4, they don't call it that anymore, has been pared down and won't deliver what they promised even in that minor upgrade.

Things are worse than we thought with the F-35.

I BET ANYONE body parts that I highly value that plan B, C, and D are being worked on with increased intensity as we speak.