Quote:
Originally Posted by Hans Tucker
I wonder how the F-35 project with all it's problems compares to the European Typhoon Eurofighter project which also had issues with a blown out budget and extensive delays...in the end they got an aircraft.
|
I've never suggested the Eurofighter, since it's current estimated flyaway cost is about the same as the JSF. But it is a good air superiority fighter by all accounts, and, in exercises, is rumoured to have some kills even against F22s. Estimated cost for an export Su30 is about one-third to one-half the cost of the Eurofighter or JSF - that's it's main attraction, given it's performance. But, as I said in an earlier post, I think the time for these options came and went a while back.
The F-35 blowouts are proportionally worse (at a given point in development). That stings more because one of the main selling points of the F-35 was that it was supposed to be built in a cost-controlled manner and to schedule.
Quote:
|
Going back in history I believe the Grumman Lunar Lander had 7 year development schedule and an initial budget of $500M which blew out to $2.2B..and that is back in the 1960's.
|
They weren't building ~2500 of them and selling them to partners! Key points are that the LEM was delivered quickly and on-time, met its goals and was a bespoke build in uncharted territory.
There's a saying in projects: "Cost, Quality, Schedule - pick any two". The F-35 is failing on all three!