The Future of the F-35 Italy cuts back

[MIGMaster]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17042065

Interesting little piece in last month's Combat Aircraft about the F-35 and it's competition as well. This was an overview of what the story was about:

AN AFFORDABLE FORCE?
Everywhere you look, the high cost of fighters is having a major impact on world air forces, big and small. With Switzerland having selected the Saab Gripen in preference to heavyweight competition Jon Lake evaluates the likelihood of a renaissance for the lightweight fighter concept

[Keunert]

over here the Gripen is still discussed as it is obviously the cheapest plane that was evaluated.
i will be glad if they go with SAAB i do not see the need for more spending at all.

[MIGMaster]

It will definitely be interesting to see how everything comes down. There is a massive number of F-5's and and other older "economy" aircraft out there will need to be replaced and due to cost the F-35 won't be an option. I suspect there will be quite a market for refurbished F-16's, F-18's and F-15's along with new Gripen (and maybe F-15) airframes.

[Centurion40]

Good looking bird.

[MIGMaster]

Yeah - it looks sexy! They are actually working on multiple variants from what I've been reading and there is going to be a top tier version that will provide advanced avionics and weapons suites.

[MIGMaster]

Interesting Marketing - I love the slogan "Designed with Freedom in Mind" At this point it may be cheaper to create a navalized version of the F-22...........

https://www.f35.com/

[bayonetbrant]

the F35s at Eglin have finally been cleared to fly

http://defensetech.org/2012/02/28/eglin-f-35as-cleared-for-flight/

does anyone remember this level of scrutiny for the F16 or F18 as it went through its initial development and production?

I don't even remember this level of scrutiny for the Longbow Apaches...

[LongBlade]

the F35s at Eglin have finally been cleared to fly

http://defensetech.org/2012/02/28/eglin-f-35as-cleared-for-flight/

does anyone remember this level of scrutiny for the F16 or F18 as it went through its initial development and production?

I don't even remember this level of scrutiny for the Longbow Apaches...

I'm not up on the politics or testing procedures so I can only speculate - perhaps no other plane has ever cost so much? Or maybe the tech is so bleeding edge we need to triple check it?

[MIGMaster]

I think you're right on both accounts.

[Keunert]

The Gripen is shit. the newest wikileaks discussion over here...

[Steelgrave]

The development of the F-35 reminds me of when the F-16 was still on the drawing board. The plan was that the F-16 would be a cheaper airframe counterpart to the F-15 and was originally going to have very limited, focused capabilities. But then Congressional games started with all the Congressmen wanting a piece of the jobs, and the price went up and up. Some things never change.

[MIGMaster]

Exactly - the made the exact same point in Combat Aircraft (Feb Issue) talking about the fact feature creep is killing the concept of a moderatley priced fighter.

[MIGMaster]

Some new negative press:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/26/pol-f35s-fighter-jets.html

[Centurion40]

Some new negative press:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/26/pol-f35s-fighter-jets.html

The fact that they might not be the right birds for us only goes to guarantee that we'll buy them!!  ::)

[Shelldrake]

Some new negative press:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/26/pol-f35s-fighter-jets.html

The fact that they might not be the right birds for us only goes to guarantee that we'll buy them!!  ::)

At least they won't be a pre-used puchase but that will be small comfort if the F35 doesn't live up to its hype.