"It's all about money. I would like to proceed with a massive acquisition, but we cannot do more than that. Our priority is to train the new generation of drivers ". Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James dampens the spirits of the Pentagon acquisition program for the F-35.
According to General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of the Air Combat Command, the Pentagon should buy the 60 F-35 a year, in the short term, to replace the most obsolete aircraft. There timeline official acquisition is 40 F-35 per year up to 2021. From the 2021 onwards, the production rate should touch the annual 60 platforms. Production inevitably linked to purchasing power. Carlisle, in fact, reiterated that to replace the entire fleet, production should be on the 80 units. Absolute utopia for the Pentagon, considering the current unit costs.
There is not enough money to quickly rebuild a new fleet - replied Secretary James browsing the buy rate plan - we are concentrating our efforts to increase the number of active service aviators.
The Air Force estimates an acquisition of 1763 F-35A. The unit cost of an F-35A for the 2016 fiscal year is 109,88 million dollars. The aircraft's structure costs 64,47 million, while the F135-PW-100 13,06 engine is millions of dollars. Avionics amounts to 16,74 million dollars. The remaining 15,61 million dollars cover the other necessary items.
The unit cost of an F-35B for the 2016 fiscal year is 121,33 million dollars. The aircraft's structure costs 71,81 million dollars, while the F135-PW-600 engine coupled with the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem costs 30.82 million dollars. Avionics amounts to 16,33 million dollars. 2.37 million dollars, finally, for other necessary items.
The unit cost of an F-35C for the 2016 fiscal year is 117,83 million dollars. The aircraft's structure costs 86,09 million dollars, while the F135-PW-400 engine costs 13,06 million dollars. Avionics amounts to 16,36 million dollars. 2,32 million dollars, finally, for other necessary items.
Due to greater efficiency and process improvements, Lockheed Martin was able to reduce the number of hours it took to produce an F-35, moving from 153.000 hours of the 2011 to 50.000 hours by the middle of the 2015. The company plans to further lower the number up to 35 thousand ire per cell within the 2020. Translated means a unit cost of 80 million dollars within the 2020.
The total cost of the F-35 program is estimated at 319 billions of dollars to which 55,13 billions of dollars in research and development and 4,79 billions of dollars in military construction (MILCON).
(photo: US Air Force)
