Current contractual unit price is below that of an F-18 Super Hornet. Yes there were overruns but supersonic steath STOVL fighters with the kind of data integration and situational awareness that the F-35 brings to the fight was not ever going to be cheap.
F-35A - Conventional - Air Force F-35B - STOVL - Marines - For landing on amphib carrier as shown F-35C - Carrier Variant - Navy - Folding Wings, beefed up landing gear
Amazing what you can do with $3bil, no?
ReplyDeleteCurrent contractual unit price is below that of an F-18 Super Hornet. Yes there were overruns but supersonic steath STOVL fighters with the kind of data integration and situational awareness that the F-35 brings to the fight was not ever going to be cheap.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe all F-35s have VSTOL capabilities. Am I wrong? How much for this model?
ReplyDeleteI think it's the F-35C that's slated for Navy/Marine will be VSTOL
DeleteF-35A - Conventional - Air Force
DeleteF-35B - STOVL - Marines - For landing on amphib carrier as shown
F-35C - Carrier Variant - Navy - Folding Wings, beefed up landing gear
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ReplyDeleteEver the cheapskate, I wondered what its fuel consumption is in the hover. Any ideas, anyone?
ReplyDeleteIn the immortal words of pepe LePeuw: Le yawn.
ReplyDeleteCalm, clear, flat ocean, windless day.
Call when they do it at night, in Sea State 4, with 20-knot gust crosswinds.
Then throw in battle damage.
Gonna need a lotta rescue helos to service those birds, while they last.