F-35 Cancelled, then what ?

[eaglemmoomin]

But LO what do you then do with the 11 odd amphib assault vessels. The US increasingly seems to use them for smaller operations instead of a CVN and the strategy is increasingly airborne based (whether you agree with it or not). It's an intrinsic requirement for the USMC and ultimately their buy is bigger than the C buy and crucially there is no ready alternative unlike the C.

Again call it inter service politics and being a 'bit clever' if you like but the B will be OCU on Block 2B software in 2015 and on excercise in 2017. Production aircraft again at 2B will be being delivered in 2015 to the UK for land based qualification in 2016. That means you have an engaged user base that really want the thing (because their conops, even if you disagree, is totally buggered without it). Meanwhile what does the USN do Greenert bigs up UCAVs, they order more F18 and make noises about a sixth gen manned fighter. Doesn't make you feel the USN F35C love really does it.

As for the CVNs Ford is costing near $15billion. They are struggling to keep all 11 going as many are coming up for their $1.5 billion dollar refit and refuelling periods and are being delayed. Lincoln is sat in dry dock so the next CVN due for refit and refuelling could be impacted and USS Enterprise is not being defuelled as of yet so will need maintaining.

Some are being kept in port instead of going on operations and they are cutting the number of air wings. If anything is in danger it's the C. It has the slowest acceleration of the lot of them, will the last delivered and won't actually get on an actual deck to confirm it's ability to trap until 2014 if the hook change is not good enough and a redesign is necessary then the C will be in major trouble it's a big IF mind as the redesigned hook looks like it works fine on a totally stationary static level strip of land.

I think it's more likely if the project is not protected (I think various senators will stick their oar in) that a salami slicing of each variant will occur or even more likely purchases and the rate of production will be slowed down.