The F-35 and the Trainwreck

The December 2009 issue of Airforces Monthly  contained an article about the future of the Air National Guard and it's "crisis".

Regarding the ANG's fighter force, the future is not looking well [1].  They will receive only one F-22 unit and only one F-35 unit, despite the fact the ANG operates 16 out of 18 bases providing alert intercept aircraft for the protection of the U.S.  The heart of the problem, as the article notes, is Gates and his "all or nothing" approach in regard to the F-35.  In order to privde funding for the F-35 production line, he is retiring 254 fighters, "perfectly good F-15s and F-16s."  Over recent years, it has become apparent that there will not be enough airframes to fulfill current roles.  This has led some, including General Wyatt to suggest procuring new fourth generation aircraft.  The DOD has responded by "discouraging" requests for new build aircraft and also dismissing the idea the Air Force could use new F/A-18s in that role.


Now, the Navy is finding its own problems with the F-35.  Among them, the final cost to procure the F-35B will be $704.  Also, the F-35 will cost $31,000 to maintain for every hour of flight time, compared to the current cost of $5,000 for the F-18.



So, let be clear if I haven't said this before.  The F-35 should be canceled.  Period.  We should keep acquiring fourth generation equipment,  the F-15, F-16, and F-18 can all be updated to new standards and can continue to be effective in their roles while still holding their technological superiority, all at a lower cost. 

The F-22 should continue in production as well, although being clearly expensive. The F-35's cost is climbing and nearing the F-22s while producing only a some of it's capabilities.  The UK has already cut their order in half.  If the Navy cuts its order, the cost will go immensely, probably surpassing the F-22. 

As has been noted by others every argument that has been used against the F-22- cost, narrow capability, irrelevant, etc, and has succeeded to kill the program is now being targeted against the F-35.  If Gates is wrong about his all or nothing project, he may be making the worst mistake in the history of military procurement and will cost taxpayers over a trillions dollars in waste.

[1] The article also points out problems with the ANG's cargo aircraft and  the problem, which has become very heated, political, and public, finding a new replacement for the 50+ year old tanker aircraft.