Original Quote by Peter We: LO:
You have a personal hatred for everything Lockheed and a corresponding love for Boeing don't you?
Anyone would think Boeing were paying your mortgage.
Hmm, you don't have to be a Boeing lover or a L-M hater to see what is happening here.
Then President Eisenhower foretold of today's problem back in 1961 when he said:
"We annually spend on military security alone more than the net income of all United States corporations."
"We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted."
Sadly, Eisenhower was correct and Lockheed-Martin together with an inept United States DoD have proven his point in three of the most recent large military procurements. It is well documented here and everywhere the missed cost targets and technological shortcomings of the F-22 and F-35 "frontline fighter" aircraft. In fact, the F-35 remains unproven technology relative to what had been promised and what it will cost. To illustrate this point, look no further than Lockheed's performance on the LCS USN Ship building program when real testing begins (sorry for the diversion here):
After the USN accepted the USS Freedom, an inspection discovered 2,600 total discrepancies, of which 21 were considered high-priority deficiencies.
USS Freedom experienced three electrical power outages in March 2013 and one further power outage in July 2013.
During trials in 2011, the USS Freedom experienced 17 known cracks in its hull. These cracks limited the ship to a speed of 20 knots as opposed to its designated speed of 40 knots. Many of the cracks were identified in identical locations on either side of the hull. This suggested that the cracks were due to flawed ship design.
In September 2010, the starboard Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine broke down and the ship had to use diesel engines to return to port.
USS Freedom experienced three electrical power outages in March 2013 and one further power outage in July 2013.
The congressional cost cap per ship has increased from $220 million in FY2006 to $480 million in FY2010.
The per ship price goal of $400 million, including mission modules, has been exceeded significantly. In FY2010 a single Freedom seaframe excluding mission modules cost $637 million.
Building all of the planned 52 ships will cost the Navy at least $35 billion.
Each ship is expected to cost around $36.6 million to operate and support.
In total, the LCS program will cost taxpayers over $120 billion over its lifetime.
But here is the real clincher:
On 15 January 2013, the Defense Department’s director of operational test and evaluation released a judgement of the LCS in an annual study. The report said that the USS Freedom was
"not expected to be survivable" in combat.
At the moment, it is only United States' tax money being pissed down the drain by the military-industrial complex. When the UK takes delivery of the F-35, you will share in the cost burden of the most expensive aircraft program, ever.