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Subject: Janes - JSF Cost Going Down
Softwar    4/11/2008 10:02:45 AM
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US Air Force (USAF) and Lockheed Martin officials have welcomed a new Pentagon report saying the costs of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) slightly decreased last year.

"I'm honestly happy any time costs don't increase," Major-General Charles Davis, the joint programme executive officer, told reporters on 8 April.

A new selected acquisition report (SAR) released late on 7 April showed that the overall cost of the F-35 programme, including research and development, declined by USD981.3 million, or 0.3 per cent, to USD298.8 billion.

The findings contradict a recent US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which found that although the official development costs had not increased, this had only been achieved by cutting back the flight-test schedule and the number of flight-test aircraft.

The GAO claimed these cutbacks could end up inflating programme costs in the long term. In a worst-case scenario, the GAO found the overall costs could increase by USD38 billion over the life of the programme.

The USAF responded to the GAO findings on 8 April, saying the SAR report for the 2006-07 time period shows that the GAO investigation was wrong.

"We do not agree with that estimate, there is no basis for that estimate, and we do not support it," said Maj Gen Davis.

 
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flamingknives       4/11/2008 2:18:24 PM
There is, somewhere, a good bit of coverage of how that cost change was calculated. Basically, $10bn went on and $11bn came off the programme
 
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Heorot    F-35 costs going up   4/11/2008 6:54:28 PM
according to FlightGlobal. P&W engine costs (not the GE/RR F-136) have ballooned by an addition $2.8bn.

"

A revised cost estimate last week showing a slight decline in overall lifecycle costs for the F-35 programme also reveals cost overrun for the Pratt & Whitney F135 propulsion system, which includes the Rolls-Royce shaft-driven lift-fan

Maj Gen Charles Davis, F-35 programme executive officer, also cited a 20% jump in estimated lift fan costs revealed in early negotiations with the P&W/R-R team for low-rate production contracts.

P&W attributes the extra costs on the lift-fan-powered short takeoff and vertical landing variant (STOVL) of the engine to a wide range of causes.

"Pressures impacting the cost of STOVL lift systems include an unfavourable foreign exchange rate, the cost of materials (global market influences) and configuration changes implemented for the benefit of the air system," the company says.

The cost increase does not include any funds for the alternative engine programme - the General Electric/R-R F136. The DoD this year is making its third attempt to overcome congressional resistance to terminate the $2.4 billion F136 development programme."


Given that report is true, I belive that Gen Davis was a little economical with the truth.


 
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Phaid    Only some JSF Costs going up   4/11/2008 7:17:40 PM
Given that report is true, I belive that Gen Davis was a little economical with the truth.

Well, no.  As flamingknives said, costs rose by a total of $10B in some areas but fell by a total of $11B in others.  In other words, the total cost decrease in the overall F-35 program was enough to absorb the P&W cost increase, and $7.2B in other cost increases besides.  The SAR states that the overall program cost decreased, not that costs in every individual subsystem decreased.
 
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ArtyEngineer    F136 Engine   4/11/2008 11:38:44 PM
What exactly is the status of this engine development program at the minute?  Does development of an alternat eengine even have merit?  Is it a purely political deal to keep RR and hence the UK happy? 
 
I think having an alternate engine is beneficial, however not at the cost of driving teh overall development cost up to the point where it puts the program at risk.  If GE/RR are so desperate to have a piece of the F35 pie so to speak thay really need to eat the cost to a large extent themselves.  Or am I totally wrong and the F136 engine development isnt having an impact on the overall program cost?
 
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nyetneinnon       4/12/2008 2:44:36 AM
So then $11 billion worth of high-tech capability 'generational above' stuff 'came off' the program??  Or something else?  (I not sure about the comment re: 'material' costs have come down??)  But not sure what FK's comment entailed, sorry :(  Would be curious to read an elaboration though, thanks..
 
But the kicker in this whole 'Buzz' story of bargain city... is "HOW MANY F-35" does this $299 billion 2007 revised program price buy?!?  10-20 fewer aircraft than in 2006 plan?  The unstated yet still 'official' figure (I think) is for 2,400-2,443 units... 
 
It's an interesting drama for sure.
 
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flamingknives       4/12/2008 4:55:38 AM
Defense-AerospaceAn analysis piece on where the savings came from. It isn't very positive.
 
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zach    F-35 rules, Russia sucks!   4/14/2008 11:03:26 AM
The F-35 is better than any Russian peace of crap in air combat! Only the F-22 is better.
 
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Herald12345       4/14/2008 11:22:28 AM

Defense-AerospaceAn analysis piece on where the savings came from. It isn't very positive.

FK, look very CAREFULLY at the Rafale-licker who regurgitated that garbage piece.

Giovanni de Briganti  is an ax grinder with a very dull ax.

Herald
 
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Heorot    Typical of Herald   4/15/2008 5:13:36 PM
Don't like the message?

Shoot the messenger.


 
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Herald12345       4/15/2008 6:04:59 PM

Don't like the message?

Shoot the messenger.



Vett the liar to see if this time he tells the truth,.

There is that subtle difference, Heorot.

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Please note that in the CRS report that the Nunn McCurdy BS lie was raised a year ago? You will read that on page 7.

So yes I shoot the !@#$%^&*() messenger when I know he regurgitates old BS that has been out there for a long while.

Sorry if this posting offends you, but nitwittery is nitwittery.  Those who can't build it always whine about those who can. You don't see me gripe about Ariane Vs success do you? Excellent rocket. I just wish Ares I will be as good.

Pax.

Herald
 
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