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....stupid bottomless pit called the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.
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What’s Britain’s stake in all this?
Britain has been involved with the JSF programme since the beginning. We invested heavily in the project because we need something to replace the ageing Harrier jump jet on the decks of our new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. The F-35B has similar hovering and vertical landing capabilities, so we’ve committed to buy at least 48. Remember all that stuff about ‘aircraft carriers without planes’? That refers to the long delay between the QE getting its commission in 2016 or 2017 and the F-35B arriving around 2020.
British companies are also heavily involved. The B-variant’s lifting system, centred around a large fan in the middle of the airframe, is being built by Rolls-Royce. BAE Systems designed, tested, and will build the tail parts of the aircraft – as well as wing-tips for the F-35C and nozzle-bay doors for the B. Altogether some 500 UK companies are involved in the programme, building 15pc of each F35 produced. BAE claims it will support 25,000 British jobs over the next 25 years.
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For years, the F-35 has been dogged by cost increases and delays. In 2001 it was slated for full-rate production by 2012; when that year arrived, it slipped to 2019. Meanwhile, in 2010, Pentagon officials said the cost per plane had soared above original projections by 50pc. Two years later the Government Accountability Office blew that out of the water with an apparent 93pc rise. One internal Pentagon report groused: “affordability is no longer embraced as a core pillar.”
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Daily Telegraph
Why is it that defence acquisitions never come in on time or on budget?
There is a litany of these projects which have usually ended up being cancelled after years of delay and cost overruns.
The most recent example in the UK was the revamping of the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft. Essentially, this meant new engines, a more efficient wing and a fully refurbished fuselage.
All manner of expensive development problems brought about the demise of the entire project in 2010.
Since then, then the UK has had no maritime patrol capability and the three ELINT versions of the Nimrod have also not been replaced.
In order to maintain skills, RAF aircrew are flying with the air forces of allies pending the arrival of new aircraft.
So what's to replace the Nimrod five years on? It seems that the RAF is about to order a number of Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft and RAF aircrews are flying with the USN on the plane.
ELINT capabilities are to be restored with the purchase of three KC-135R airframes converted to RC-135W Rivet Joint standard.
Although constructed in 1964(!) the aircraft have comparatively low airframe hours and will be substantially refurbished.
Still, it's only money and the hard pressed tax payer will happily hand over wedges of 'folding stuff' to settle the bill.