Getting US ready for war, Biden style

[RED]

Cutting back our defense spending.

[Quote] Today, the F-35 is the standard for top-tier air forces throughout the world. But this under-estimated and hard-won framework for global success may crumble away as the Pentagon, eager for the ?next big thing,? begins pulling the rug out from under the F-35 program, hitting it with an abrupt 35% cut to next year?s order book.[Quote]

[Johnny P]

Could you have ever imagined a more inept President and Vice President of the United States. Both are totally clueless. Biden's progressive dementia gives him an excuse, but what can Kamala claim?

[Vern Humphrey]

Could you have ever imagined a more inept President and Vice President of the United States. Both are totally clueless. Biden's progressive dementia gives him an excuse, but what can Kamala claim?

It's like Jimmy Carter to the tenth power!

[togor]

https://www.airforcemag.com/usaf-to-cut-f-35-buy-in-future-years-defense-plan/

Discussion of the subject, but I get how it's way more satisfying to blame politicians.

[barretcreek]

Finland and Germany have chosen F-35s, post Ukraine. How do those purchases ($/unit for planes and spares) dial down the costs for everyone?

[Major Tom]

https://www.airforcemag.com/usaf-to-...-defense-plan/

Discussion of the subject, but I get how it's way more satisfying to blame politicians.

Like you blamed Trump for everything during his administration and still do even today?

[RED]

https://www.airforcemag.com/usaf-to-...-defense-plan/

Discussion of the subject, but I get how it's way more satisfying to blame politicians.

That is just the USAF, here are the plans for the USN and the USMC and it is not 10%.

[Quote]
Observers expect next year?s Air Force order will be chopped by a third, the Marine Corps will buy 25% fewer aircraft, and the Navy will slash purchases of the marinized F-35C by half. In total, 33 aircraft will be cut from an expected procurement of 94.
[Quote]

[togor]

That is just the USAF, here are the plans for the USN and the USMC and it is not 10%.

Observers expect next year?s Air Force order will be chopped by a third, the Marine Corps will buy 25% fewer aircraft, and the Navy will slash purchases of the marinized F-35C by half. In total, 33 aircraft will be cut from an expected procurement of 94.

The buzzword that is driving this is "sustainment", as in how much it costs to keep a plane operational after buying it. They are off by a factor of 40% or so. Stuff always costs more than you would like but defense is particularly bad at cost games, because their boss is Congress (is there a less trustworthy boss out there?) and they know that if things go to hell, Congress will just throw money at the problem. But the flip side of that is sometimes that lackadaisical approach to costs bites you in the ass with mundane budget items like how many airplanes and of what types can be kept airworthy. The B-2 bomber is a nightmare in that respect.

[togor]

If it makes people feel any better, getting gouged is an old problem in military spending. Fritz Krupp had a 100% markup on goods he sold the Kaiser, and even Putin is discovering that all that oil money bought him a lot less capability than he thought he was getting.

[bruce]

Gouging and just plain criminal conduct goes way way back beyond the War Between the States. Not surprisingly, there were folks profiteering off of the cost of making war even in the ears of the Revolution. Sincerely. bruce.

[lyman]

Gouging and just plain criminal conduct goes way way back beyond the War Between the States. Not surprisingly, there were folks profiteering off of the cost of making war even in the ears of the Revolution. Sincerely. bruce.

I'm reading an old book reprinted by Townsend's on the Hessians,

there were issues during the Rev war as well