via Global Post.com
He said the service made difficult choices in its fiscal 2015 budget and five-year spending plan to protect the ramp up in F-35 production for that reason.This is why the Marine Corps is in the middle of its biggest procurement wreck and holiday in its entire history.
"The operation and sustainment cost is a bigger issue," LaPlante said. "It's the one that will say whether or not we can afford (the F-35)" in the longer run.
The Pentagon's chief weapons tester reported in January that the F-35 fleet was available for use an average of 37 percent of the time from late 2012 to October 2013, far below the minimum threshold of 50 percent and the program's goal of 75 percent. The program is aiming for 60 percent availability by 2015.
I've said before that the Marine Corps shelved personnel, the ACV, MPC, AAV Upgrade, JLTV and probably the CH-53K because of that Walking Dead cast member.
The trouble is obvious.
Even IF (and its a HUGE if..) they are successful in driving down the unit costs you then are faced with operation and sustainment...what you and I would call maintenance costs.
Unless they've waved a magic wand then these will be some expensive, hangar queens that continue to cost even after they enter service.
The Marine Corps is broke. More money will NOT be coming and every available cent is currently programmed for the F-35.
We're screwed.
Note: Operations and Sustainment costs...maintenance! I don't care about the stealth coatings Its about not only procurement but also maintenance and if maintenance is unaffordable then neither is this airplane.
