MM quote: Err...and of course the F-111 was such a fine exemple of effective procurement, project management and financial awareness back in the 60s wasn't it BBadanov?!!!
Err...Yes MM - a lot better than today. It was ordered in 1963, and the first Aussie crews flew it in US in 1968 to then ferry them home. Then wing carry-through boxes delayed acceptance until 1973. In those days Air Force was a separate ministry and looked after its own procurement and it worked well, Mirage being another example of that era. Despite delays with the F-111, it served us as a fantastic deterrant from 1973 until 2010.
Today, staffing projects through 1st and 2nd passes, and DMO project management, takes many, many years of delayed procurement, quite often delivering something which is inferior. AIR 87 is the classic. The best way to achieve a quick procurement these days is a straight FMS project of MOTS equipment with none of our "orphan" modifications.
JSF - when did we pick it, and send Eurofighter and other options scurrying - 2001? When will we take delivery? 2019?