F-35 delay's and other restrictions

"John Cook" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 01:18:57 GMT, "Mitch Benjamin"
wrote:

What a big shock, Lock-Mart == over promise, under deliver...


To be fair the the specification is very hard, a STOVL, supersonic,
three way compatable, cheap, that fulfills a dozen countries future
fight/bomber requirements, with adequate workshare, within a very
tight timeframe!!, any one of these could cause problems, as a group
of challenges they are quite formidable.

Agreed, it's unlikely to be ready by any of the earliest dates mentioned.
2012 is optimistic for full scale production.

a Posible solution- I think they might (just might) cut a varient, to
make it two main varients with a 'bodgy' third varient.

I think they'll prefer to run late rather than make any serious compromises.

Which one of the varients is the most likely to be cut? my monies on
the CTOL, a modified STVOL with a fuel tank instead of the lift fan
would give the best bodgy CTOL third varient, range would nearly be in
the original CTOL range.

STVOL without the fan is desired by a few users. That lift fan space has a
few possible uses. In no order or practicality: 2nd seat, power take off for
the dreamed of laser weapon, fuel tank, photorecon, something you can drop,
some more spook related applications etc ....

Any other suggestions to make the program easier?.

Yep, address the most obvious problems with delivery. So far all the
partners assume they'll get their aircraft first, secondly some non-partners
believe they can use political muscle to jump the queue. So the obvious
answer is to tell the non-partners to ^&^$# off, unless they want to pay a
very heft late entry fee, and then sort out the production sequence for the
partner countries (based on who's going to place real orders up front and
what will be available). This should be the "Show me the money" production
queue.

OK, that addresses simplifying delivery. In this current SDD phase it's a
matter of remaining focused and not picking on every deficiency identified.
Give the guys a chance to resolve it first! It would seem the majority of
the buyers are not after the STOVL version so, focus on the more
conventional variants and get that rolling off the production line. You fill
orders, get money, and give the guys a chance to sort out the STOVL variant.
Of course, we all know that the US and UK won't accept that because they
have to get their aircraft first.....

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