Those who fail to learn from history…
Who hasn’t seen this before and can accurately predict the outcome;
When Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced funding cuts earlier this month, some in the defense industry shuddered. But for others, the announced cuts will generate new opportunities to revitalize older systems.
It’s not unusual for a program termination to refocus attention on an older program, but analysts said this shift may become more common as the Pentagon’s budget tightens and it is forced to work with the equipment it already owns.
This time around, Gates announced the Defense Department will end a Marine Corps vehicle program with prime contractor General Dynamics and will instead direct money toward repairing and upgrading its existing amphibious assault vehicle, built by BAE Systems. Additionally, he delayed part of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 strike-fighter aircraft program and said the Pentagon would buy more of Boeing’s F/A-18 aircraft.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Military issues
Great. If it wasn’t bad enough that I was worried about pork barrel spending, now I have to worry about pork barrel funding cuts?
Seriously, though, is there any way to get politics out of the procurement process?
No way in Hell, or inside DC.
Interesting that the majority of the systems cut since January, 2009, deal with control of the sky.
Another peace dividend maybe? Because the last one worked out so well
I suppose they’re taking the whole Adapt, Improvise, Overcome to the next level…nothing new for the Marine Corp.
This is a disaster for the Corps, the MEU concept and the ability to advance a MEF away from the shore.
The only version of the Hornet being built now are Super Hornets; F/A-18E/F and the Growler, EF/A-18G. The Corps does not operate any of those, so buying more doesn’t help my Beloved Corps replace the rapidly aging “legacy” Hornets and the Harriers (AV-8) that the STOVL F-35 is intended to replace.
Whose side is the SecDef on, anyway?
TopGoz; I understand your frustration, but the F-35 is plagued with cost overruns that make the F-22 look miniscule and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight to getting the problems resolved. It’s another one of those extremely complex systems where I think we are outsmarting ourselves and it’s coming back to bite us in the butt. Same with the Comanche helicopter for the Army, where is was a “hangar queen” because of the complex systems and the cost overruns and long delays were too much and a decision needed to be made.
I’m going t say this and I know I won’t make any new friends from it but..
I don’t see the real demand for an amphib assault vehicle upgrade. Aren’t there easier, faster, more tactical ways to get into a country that’s on the defensive then rolling up the beach? I mean, with todays offensive weapons we can’t look outside the box for marine ops?
And Trooper makes a great point in that we have to ask how long we keep throwing money at projects that won’t work or aren’t imparative. I’d also like to see contractors held to their bid when making this equipment, we’ve thrown money at things without thinking and then get mad when the left does the same for their projects
It’s not cuts so much, as where the cuts are applied. Air power, air and missile defense power, and firepower are the capabilities on the block.
It’s one thing to say ‘oh, let’s cut a division.’ It’s quite another to say ‘no artillerists need apply.’
We’re doing this because the P-35 worked out so well in WWII? Hell yes, let’s just throw billions at refurbishing systems that are anywhere from 20 to 50 years old.
But, by all means, shut down production of the F-22, we don’ need no stinkin’ F-22’s. After all, John McCain sneered, an F-22 hasn’t dropped a single bomb in Afghanistan. Spoken like a true mud mover. What’s that, the F-35 isn’t ready, won’t be ready? Makes no never mind, Barack hath spoken, and the pols at the Puzzle Palace jump to obey.
Hey, how ’bout them Chicoms? Making great progress in 5th Generation fighters, aren’t they?
This from Defense Industry Daily “ the EFV program was expected to cost about $7.3 billion, including $1.6 billion for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E). By 2006, that figure had risen to $12.5 billion, including $2.5 billion for RDT&E. At 1,013 EFVs, the final cost per vehicle had grown to $10.1 million2 – but even this figure was true if, and only if, all planned vehicles were bought. By August 2009, the program’s estimated cost was $14.29 billion, including $3.74 billion in RDT&E; and this 14 billion dollar figure was so despite a 42.1% cut in the expected order, to just 593 EFVs. Overall, the cost per vehicle has risen almost 250% from its December 2000 baseline. In a 2006 discussion, the program office estimated that a cutback to 573 vehicles could increase costs by up to $2 million per vehicle to $12-13 million. Other reports have placed the cost as high as $17 million average.” And this from Catains Journal “In a pivotal moment, the EFV failed a milestone operational assessment on numerous levels in 2006. According to Defense Department and congressional reports, the assessment was “dominated by very low reliability,” where the vehicle was able to operate only 4.5 hours between breakdowns, with 3.6 hours of corrective maintenance needed for every hour in use. Reviewers completed only two of the 11 amphibious tests and one of the 10 gunnery tests, and the gun turret support arm broke free during the assessment. The Marines Corps is uncharacteristically willing to accept inferior equipment, even after all of the redesign has been finished. “The Corps expects the new prototypes to last about 19 hours in between breakdown when they first receive them, which would put the requirement of 43.5 hours before breakdown within reach for the final product.” Don’t let this fact escape notice. Target = less than two full days of operation before major malfunction occurs requiring protracted maintenance. This is the ultimate goal, not the interim stages while the Corps tests the vehicle. Finally, there is the issue of the IED and roadside bomb vulnerability of the EFV,… Read more »