Isn’t Gates a huge proponent of killing this fighter program?

DOD wants it killed, but it’s political. And DOD missed out on chances to upgrade the A-10, F-16 and F-15 airframes (all of which perform better than the JSF).

Isn’t Gates a huge proponent of killing this fighter program?

he’s a proponent of military fiscal responsibility no matter what…reduction in budget for these things, increasing special operations budget, stopped funding the navy’s new sub program…i like.

Isn’t Gates a huge proponent of killing this fighter program?

He’s a proponent of cutting the DOD budget. Not sure where he would cut specifically, though.

and considering how much other countries will spend on our aircraft, we can make some of that investment back down the road.

but cmon…FOUR TIMES YOUR INITIAL BUDGET? fucking get this shit done, skunkworks.

Yep, defense contractors are smart, they piecemeal production across the country so that lots of politician’s protect the project.

This. No senator or congressmen wants to be the one who lets the military plant close.

it’s tough to justify the joint strike fighter program any more…

Not unless you’re a congressman from that district. Than it’s easy, because the moment you say, “citizens, we need to build something better, something that the military and this great country can and will use to defend our freedom.” Some dude who wants to be the next junior congressman was middle town America will say, “So and so wants to close this plant and put you on unemployment.”

Yet somewhere in middle town America, some plant makes parts for this thing. And somewhere in south town America, some plant makes parts for this thing. Therefore it will continue to be massive waste of money.

Yep, defense contractors are smart, they piecemeal production across the country so that lots of politician’s protect the project.

* The Joint Strike Fighter is driving much of DOD’s poor portfolio performance and it will continue to drive outcomes for the foreseeable future. Among the 96 programs in DOD’s 2011 portfolio, the Joint Strike Fighter is the costliest, the poorest performer in terms of
cost growth, and the program with the largest remaining funding needs.
The Joint Strike Fighter accounts for 21 percent, or nearly $327
billion, of the planned total acquisition cost of the portfolio. It is
also responsible for the most significant research and development,
procurement, and total acquisition cost growth in the past year, as
shown in figure 1. This growth took place without any change in
procurement quantities by the program.

Yet somewhere in middle town America, some plant makes parts for this thing. And somewhere in south town America, some plant makes parts for this thing. Therefore it will continue to be massive waste of money.

* The Joint Strike Fighter is driving much of DOD’s poor portfolio performance and it will continue to drive outcomes for the foreseeable future. Among the 96 programs in DOD’s 2011 portfolio, the Joint Strike Fighter is the costliest, the poorest performer in terms of
cost growth, and the program with the largest remaining funding needs.
The Joint Strike Fighter accounts for 21 percent, or nearly $327
billion, of the planned total acquisition cost of the portfolio. It is
also responsible for the most significant research and development,
procurement, and total acquisition cost growth in the past year, as
shown in figure 1. This growth took place without any change in
procurement quantities by the program.

if you objective decided, you’d have let me live knowing the impact that’d have. dumbass.

oh well. too late.

to illustrate my objectivity in my decision making as future chairman, I will now assassinate the current chairman.

if you objective decided, you’d have let me live knowing the impact that’d have. dumbass.

Who do they play after GT?

Hopefully Alabama or LSU*.

*actually, hopefully Ole Miss