The F-35 program grew by $25 billion in 2018—or about $95 billion when adjusting for inflation

via Air Force Magazine.

The total cost of the F-35 program grew by $25 billion in 2018—or about $95 billion when adjusting for inflation—in part because of a new slate of upgrades known as Block 4, the Pentagon said in an annual acquisition report published Aug. 1.

Acquisition alone—including research and development, procurement, and military construction costs—rose by $15.3 billion compared to the 2012 baseline, or $22.2 billion when adjusted for inflation.

The Pentagon also noted a dispute between its cost assessment and program evaluation shop, which believes Joint Strike Fighter operations and sustainment costs are rising, and the F-35 Joint Program Office, which argues those costs are shrinking.

Story here. 

Not a good sign when the Pentagon CAPE shop disagrees with the cost estimate given by the JSF Program.

Worse.

The cost curve just can't get pushed down.  Adding another 95 billion dollars to this program can't be a good sign...especially with them being at the start of the Block 4 upgrades AND those upgrades being just a PART (unknown how big a part) of the cost increase.

The troubles for the F-35 have just begun.  New suppliers are gonna need to be found to replace the companies in Turkey that were producing them and the risk of increased costs rears its head again with that possibility.

What was it the JSF Program Office said about companies in Turkey?  Something to the effect of them producing quality parts at affordable prices? That will be hard to replicate with a short fused request for new suppliers.