- Graham Warwick of Aviation Week & Space Technology writes about the AFRL's ambitious fuze development program for the next generation of dual-role missiles
- Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute pitches business case for split-buy on KC-X
- But George Talbot of the Mobile (Alabama) Press Register says Rep Norm Dicks remains adamantly opposed
- Former Oz Defence Minister Kim Beazley applauds Gates' proposals for US defense budget
- Peter LaFranchi of Rotorhub writes that more AH-64s may yet be sold to Japan
- The Defense Writers Group releases transcript of breakfast meeting with USAF's 8th Air Force chief
- Boeing consultant Tom Gunn, in the St Louis Post-Dispatch, lobbies for US DOD to trade F-35s and F-22s in for more F-15s and F/A-18s
- The China Defense Blog ponders Beijing's version of a military stimulus
- Watch Space and Missile Systems Center's Industry Days on YouTube
on April 29, 2009 2:37 PM | Reply
ad Tom Gunn:
Oh yes better buy a plane based on an allmost 40 year old design which will cost around 100 million instead of the Raptor one for around 140 million and less.
on April 30, 2009 7:07 AM | Reply
Mr. Thompson seems to be ignoring the the cost of training different crews that can only fly one of the two aircraft. (The exact reason the C-130AMP program was started to cut down the training and number of pilots required.) Also two sets of mechanics, two sets of spares, ground power equipment, tools and additional infrastructure such as hangers. The dual development costs alone will contribute to the problem. I suggest Mr. Thompson put pencil to paper and talk numbers ($) rather than theory and philosophy.
on April 30, 2009 7:33 AM | Reply
Prometheus,
Granted that Mr. Gunn is in selling mode with his article but the F-35 won't go for only $140M/ship, the costs are still mounting, the F-15 doesn't cost $100M and the F/A-18 runs $50M. The question I think Mr. Gunn was trying to answer is WHEN will the F-35 be operational. I ask at what cost? Also, what fills in while we await the coming. LM's record for cost overruns is historic on most all their programs, F-22, various models of the F-16, the Coast Guard ships, C-5A, C-5B, etc. etc. The F-35 is already 2 years late the Navy version is 2 years behind the first USAF model and the current USAF fleet is over stressed. USAF and the Navy need something in the mean time and both are in production. As for being a 40 year old design, the F-15 has a greater pay load and all the electronics of the F-35.
on April 30, 2009 4:07 PM | Reply
Well my guess is a new F-15 "Silent Eagle" will cost around 100 million.