Thinking The Unthinkable About The F-35 -- DoD Buzz
An AvWeek headline this week posed a question that once had an easy, one-word answer: No.
The question was, per David A. Fulghum and Bill Sweetman: “Are there alternatives to the F-35 program?” But in post-super committee America, where the Air Force daydreams about growing its fleet with a service-life extension program for the Wright Flyer , things aren’t as clear cut as they used to be.
Back in the old days we used to say, c’mon, there’s just too much riding on this to seriously contemplate it going away. It’s the largest defense program in history. It’s the future of fast-jet flying for three U.S. military services and a host of international clients. It’s got an economic footprint across the country. All the right people in Washington have a stake in pressing forward, even as its schedule slides and its costs creep up.
Read more ....
My Comment: If the F-35 program is scrapped .... it will take years (if not more) for the Air Force (and Lockheed Martin) to recover. But in today's financial/debt crisis .... that will probably be the choice that is taken.
Update: Yeah, there are alternatives "for" the F-35 program -- Eric Palmer Blog