F-35: Expected 1013 hunt by September of 2016, but only 179 are those made to date

(To Franco Iacch)
04/12/15

The delays accumulated over the years and the skyrocketed costs could bring the United States air force to its knees and force those of the partner countries of the JSF program to continue flying with obsolete platforms. The delays in the production of the F-35 were confirmed, a few hours ago, also by Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for the acquisition, technology and logistics.

"Although the F-35 is a priority, we also have other programs to fund. Billions of dollars have been invested in the JSF program, but there are others that cannot be slowed down ”.

Kendall's words leave room for different interpretations, but the most striking data is undoubtedly that linked to the expected production. By September 30, 2016, Lockheed Martin is expected to have delivered 1013 F-35s, however, as of December 2015, 179, only XNUMX have been made.

To guarantee the supplies, according to the initial estimate, the Pentagon should have purchased 100 F-35 per year for twenty years at a cost of ten billion dollars a year. We know, however, that only by the 2020, will Lockheed Martin be able to build 17 F-35 per month, compared to the current rate on the three aircraft. At the beginning of the program, the US company planned to build 20 a month, delays and cuts in US defense revised that estimate.

The US military strategy, at least ideally, is structured so as to simultaneously defeat two distinct enemies in different parts of the world and be able to defend American territory against any attack. The problem is that some Air Force aircraft have reached twenty-seven years of activity. The aging of the military air fleet is now all too obvious and new bombers and fighters are needed. Despite continued appeals by the US military for extra funds, US military spending remains the highest in the world, with an 640 billion dollar budget in the 2014. The United States spends more than China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and India combined.