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Current fly away costs estimates for the F-35 are in the neighborhood of 100-150M. Current fly away costs for Block 50+ F-16 are in the 100M range depending on
by greedo 13y ago
Current fly away costs estimates for the F-35 are in the neighborhood of 100-150M. Current fly away costs for Block 50+ F-16 are in the 100M range depending on electronics suite. It's been a long, long time since you could buy an F-16 for $5M.
Also, the F-35 is more maneuverable than the current F-16s which have to hang a ton of armament on pylons, as well as drop tanks to get range equivalent to the F-35. And try flying any F-16 into S300 range.
Now the criticisms of the F-35B (Marine STOVL variant) are semi-valid, and have affected some facets of the F-35A and F-35C. But other than cost overruns, the performance of the aircraft will be fine.
- caycep 13y agoI think the F-16 over the years has suffered from mission creep, that has added weight and decreased performance. Then again, thinking about this, the USAF really plans on logistics, and most of the plans I've seen really focus on how plans can carrying something (usually bombs) to a place, from far away, and flying around enemy radar and other badness. They really need the equivalent of a fedex truck that can't be shot down.
- greedo 13y agoYes, the F-16's performance has suffered greatly as it's become more "multi-mission." Ironically, the philosophy for the F-15 was "not a pound for air to ground" yet both it and the F-14 (in its F-14D Bombcat config) turned out to be exceptional tactical bombers. The F-16 isn't bad, but because of the small wing has far less range than the Mudhen or the F-35.
- zokier 13y ago> Current fly away costs for Block 50+ F-16 are in the 100M range depending on electronics suite. Any sources for this claim? The details on sales deals are scarce, but from what I gather Block50/52 models should be in the $40M range, or maybe even as low as $15M. The major exception being UAEs heavily modified Block60 which seem to go for significantly higher (in the $100M range).
- greedo 13y agoTurkey bought 30 Block 50s at $2.9B, which is a hair under $100M, but I was really referring more to the UAE Block 60. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/turkey-orders-30-f16c-block-50s-et-al-for-29b-02671/ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/turkey-orders-30-f16c-bl...
- vonmoltke 13y agoThis is the key line (key bits in italics): >On Sept 28/06, the US DSCA (Defense Security Cooperation Agency) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey of 30 more F-16C Block 50 aircraft external link, as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.9 billion. Thus, the money includes any of spares, ground equipment, special tooling, weapons, and training. I can tell you from my experience on the F-22A program that these items can add significant cost to an overall buy, and I would not be surprised if 1/3 or more of that price was the extras rather than the airplanes.
- zokier 13y agoYeah, this came up a lot when I tried to search for past deals. That's why finding a real figure for the price of the plane seems really difficult, even for a plane as widespread as the F-16.