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1.4 trillion has not been spent yet! Only a fraction so far. Unless we fall for the sunk cost fallacy, there is still plenty of time to cut our losses.
by farseer 8y ago
1.4 trillion has not been spent yet! Only a fraction so far. Unless we fall for the sunk cost fallacy, there is still plenty of time to cut our losses.
- dev_dull 8y agoAnd do what? Create a new $1T bungled project?
- SllX 8y agoReviving F-22 production for air superiority (and export to key allies like Japan) and starting a new program for a modern close-air support fighter might be a good start. I don't think the F-35 is a bad plane and does what it was designed to do very well, but it isn't the best tool for all the roles it is expected to fill.
- colordrops 8y agoAny sources on how much has been spent so far? I'm curious.
- adventured 8y agoWe're between $100 and $200 billion into the program in total so far, including 20 years of R&D and the cost of manufactured planes. They've built 300+ planes so far. The total acquisition cost over 40 years is set at $406 billion for 2,456 F35s as of the latest estimate. $345 billion is the cost of just the planes. $162m per plane. You'll routinely see the media get just about every financial fact about the F35 wrong that they possibly can. For example, you'll see claims that they've already spent $400 billion on the program (with links to the GAO figures), when in fact the $400b is the planned total acquisition cost across its lifetime.
- joering2 8y agoThat number makes sense. Even if much less was spent.. enough was spent that too many politicians, generals, lobbyist dip their fingers and they don't want to look incompetent. Don't count on them pulling the plug on this project; it has to come from Congress so that those I mentioned can blame lack of founds. Otherwise they will continue party with lights on as long as they can (on taxpayers dime, of course)