jlf1961
Posts: 14840
Joined: 6/10/2008
From: Somewhere Texas
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In the rush to develop gen 5 air superiority fighters, problems have arisen.
The F22 Raptor was the first gen 5 fighter deployed by the US and it has been plagued with problems that should have been found during the test phase of development. They have been grounded due to ejection seat problems and oxygen system problems.
Of course, in 2009, the program was terminated, so no new F22's will be built. It was more expensive per copy than the JSF is expected to be.
Of course, the JSF has been plagued with problems, according to the GAO.
quote:
Defense Contract Management Agency officials noted difficulties in manufacturing outer mold lines, resulting from tight tolerance specifications and multiple manufacturing methodologies among the different JSF parts suppliers. The manufacturing processes are new and different from legacy practices.
Inability to meet the outer mold line requirements could have major impacts on cost as well as stealth requirements and capabilities.
This problem is not expected to be resolved until the June 2015 time frame after which a large number of aircraft will have been built and would need to be retrofitted for any design changes.
Program officials stated some redesign activities have begun and will take into the 2013 timeframe to begin developing the changes, their costs, and implementation. The effects of these changes could extend out into 2015, but will be prioritized to reduce performance and cost impacts.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A4228b45c-c7f9-47de-813e-6c9834315ac0
First, considering the latest MIG in development, the F22 is needed, and should not have been cancelled. However, I feel the program needs more testing and fine tuning. And yes, it was the Obama administration Defense Department that recommended the cancellation.
Second, given the GAO report, it seems that not all the bugs have been worked out of the JSF, another aircraft I feel needs to be in production, but it needs to be up to spec.
The question is, has the Defense Department rushed these programs and put them into production before they were ready?
I have said before that defense spending could be cut by a third, and we would still be spending almost three times as much as any other country. It seems that there is a lot of waste to be cut, since it costs the government money to fix problems that have come up.
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Is the defence department in a rush to stay on top? - 
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