The F-35 program is demonstrating -- affordability, design stability, reliable cost forecasts and adherence to schedules
Hmmm OK
Affordability and reliable cost forcasts - the price is rising and nobody is going to offer it at a fixed cost now, the program is presently looking at way to change US law to allow multi year procurements of the JSF to off set the high cost of the initial builds, Now how can anyone say its affordable when the purchase price is presently unknown???, bearing in mind that its $31 Billion over the 2004 baseline figure, coupled with the Cost Analysis Improvement Group expressing concerns about the reality of cost estimates which are
too low.
Design Stability and adherence to Schedule - the Present JSF is not a production representative aircraft, its structurally different, the reason is the design wasn't anywhere near stable when they started to build them and further testing will require more changes. (a real production JSF flight has been delayed 8 months) shortening the required number of test flights isn't really adhering to a schedule its changing the schedule to fit the time I think they use the word 'Compression'
Does anyone seriously believe this schedule will be kept - IOC started out as 2010 then 2010-2012 then 2012-2013 now its 2012-2015... My personal opinion is around 2016-2020
So its not quite as rosey as some would have you believe, no fighter development program ever is.. why does anyone think this one is different?
Cheers