I hope the F-35 is going to be a lean, mean fighting machine, the kind of beast our (Royal) Naval aviators will be proud of, as well as the RAF (they are getting 3 aren’t they?).
Hopefully the F-35 will be a useful tool for the armoury, but I anticipate the kind of delays and price increases that dog every programme of this nature.
The interesting time will come when the powers that be in the US change (and change again) before the F-35 enters service. Especially with developments occurring (at the rate they are) in the UAV field.
By the time the F-35 is midway through its flight test programme the ‘knockers’ will probably be saying too expensive, too late, obsolete….. as they always do.
These things are always political hot potatoes and the UK have a vested interest in cost / timescale increases.
It will be interesting to see how the Chancellor(s) / DPA / Ministers play this one.
One factor that would offset governmental costs is exports of the F-35.
The prospect of making some money out of the exports will be a key issue.
With the timescales and costs involved and other product (UAV) developments along the way….bearing in mind the political and economic state of our planet, who would / could possibly buy the F-35? What would be the export deal agreement between the US / UK governments?
In relation to the reference article, do the Marines (USMC Aviators) only provide CAS for Marines, or for all ground troops?
Will the USAF and Marines get liberal helpings of the (STOVL) F-35 for the CAS role?
Last edited by Wigan Warrior; 17th Sep 2004 at 14:28.