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vincentML -> RE: AIR FORCE ONE (12/7/2016 8:21:57 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mnottertail
Where exactly is the 4 billion figure citation of fact?
The Air Force has published a budgetary document that says research, development, testing and evaluation of the new Air Force Ones -- officially known as the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization -- will cost $2.87 billion between fiscal years 2015 and 2021. However, the project is expected to extend beyond 2021, and experts told PolitiFact it would likely require another $1 billion in subsequent years to finish the job. The Teal Group has estimated that the project will require an additional $858 million between fiscal years 2022 and 2026.
That adds up to a grand total of $3.73 billion over 12 years. That’s not "more than $4 billion," as Trump said, but it’s reasonably close -- and it’s no secret that defense contracts have a history of escalating in cost over time. Already, in response to inquiries from the media after Trump’s tweet, an Air Force spokesman told reporters to expect the interim $2.7 billion figure "to change as the program matures."
So as a raw number, Trump’s $4 billion figure is in the ballpark.
We should add that none of this price-tag includes operations and maintenance, such as aviation fuel, maintenance and pilot salaries.
"Operations and maintenance are an inherent part of any such program," said John Pike, director of globalsecurity.org. "Canada was in line to buy the F-35, but then realized that they would actually had to operate the things, and they had sticker shock. Malaysia bought a bunch of MiG-29s without a service contract, to save money, and they soon turned into hangar queens."
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