F-35 - win or loss for the USA and their partners?

Authors

  • Tomáš Schóber Slovak Air Force HQJ. Zvolen, Slovak Republic
  • Pavel Puliš Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Aeronautics, Košice, Slovak Republic

Keywords:

F-35, Aircraft, Development, Design, Procurement, Capability

Abstract

Joint Strike Fighter evolved into the world's largest and most expensive weapons program. The information flow from the media is keeping us informed about the achievements and mishaps of the program almost on week basis. The aim of this paper is, according to numerous articles and official reports, to evaluate and analyse current status of the program from the developmental and financial point of view, and to outline future trends, possible limitations and hidden risks for the projected customers. This article also compares the cost growth, factors contributing to cost growth, and operational and strategic risk of past joint and single-service programs.

Author Biography

  • Pavel Puliš, Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Aeronautics, Košice, Slovak Republic

    Department of Air Transport Management

References

COHEN, Z. „The F-35: Is the world's most expensive weapons program worth it?“, CNN Politics, 16.7.2015. Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/16/politics/f-35-jsf-operational-costs/.

DARPA / Navy Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter (CALF) 1993-1994. Available at: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/calf.htm.

Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST). Available at: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jast.htm.

LORELL, M. A., KENNEDY, M., LEONARD, R. S., MUNSON, K., ABRAMZON, S., AN, D. L., GUFREY, R. A., Do Joint Fighter Programs Save Money?, RAND Project Air Force, Santa Monica, CA, 2013. Available at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1225.html.

GERTLER, J., F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program, CRS Report RL30563, Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service April 29, 2014.

CRS Report RL31673, Air Force F-22 Fighter Program.

CRS Report RL30624, Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Program.

BOLCOM, CH. and O'ROURKE, R., CRS Report RS21488, Navy Marine Corps Tactical Air Integration Plan: Background and Issues for Congress.

IHS Jane’s Defence Insight Report “Air Platforms,” June 2013.

SCOTT, J., “F-35s to Sell for as Low as $80 Million in 2019, Pentagon Says,” Bloomberg.com, March 11, 2014.

SHALAL, A., “U.S. focuses on cheaper, more reliable F-35 jet: Air Force official,” Reuters.com, April 1, 2014.

Office of the Secretary of Defence, Selected Acquisition Report (SAR): F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft (F-35), December 31, 2013.

STAROSTA, G., “Block Upgrades For Earliest F-35s To Cost $6M Per Aircraft,” InsideDefense.com, March 26, 2014.

GAO, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Current Outlook Is Improved, but Long-Term Affordability Is a Major Concern. GAO-13-309. Washington, D.C.: March 11, 2013.

Australia, Belgium Enter Joint Strike Fighter Program as EMD Partners,” Inside the Air Force, April 21, 2000.

BUTLER, A., “Deal for Italian JSF Assembly Facility Finally Set,” Aerospace Daily, July 20, 2010.

SIEGEL, M. and SHALAL, A., “Australia orders 58 F-35 Lockheed Martin stealth fighters,” Reuters.com, April 22, 2014.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, FY 14 DoD Programs, p. 39-72. Available at: http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/FY2014/pdf/dod/2014f35jsf.pdf.

BRIGANTI, de G., F-35 Program Massages Flight Test Results, Defense-Aerospace.com, published Jan 19, 2015. Available at: http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/160298/f_35-program-massages-flight-test-results.html.

Not Ready for Prime Time, DOT&E Report: The F-35 Is Not Ready for IOC and Won't Be Any Time Soon, 12.3.2015. Available at: http://www.pogo.org/our-work/straus-military-reform-project/weapons/2015/not-ready-for-prime-time.html#cooking_the_numbers.

ARCHIBALD, D., “The Disappointment That Is the F-35“, American Thinker, 21.3.2015. Available at: http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/03/the_disappointment_that_is_the_f35.html.

Downloads

Published

25-01-2016

Issue

Section

Technical Information

Categories

How to Cite

Schóber, T., & Puliš, P. (2016). F-35 - win or loss for the USA and their partners?. Advances in Military Technology, 10(2), 81-94. https://aimt.cz/index.php/aimt/article/view/1099

Similar Articles

1-10 of 156

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.