F-35: A Short History Of The Costliest Fighter Ever

Be all that you can be.

It costs more than the annual GDP of Australia, and we are borrowing 42 cents of every dollar to pay for it.

Update - Pentagon Grounds Entire Fleet of F-35 Stealth Fighters

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Related:

The F-35: A Weapon That Costs More Than Australia

Government Sees Lifetime Cost Of F-35 fighter At $1.51 Trillion - Reuters

Comments

[paul]

Wonder how many are already promised to Israel?

[carroll price]

This latest plane will very quickly be handed over to Israel so they can then sell it to an "enemy". Which in turn creates a need for the Pentagon to development (at taxpayer expense) an even more sophisticated fighter to compete with the F-35. This is only one of the tactics used to sustain the self-perpetuating arms race that has robbed the American people over the past 60 years.

[JustMe]

..although Israel who has hijacked the US gets them for free.

[hidflect]

We stand humbled in a state of shock and awe at the mind-boggling waste.

[Andyj]

The more we buy, the more Israel can be promised.

[fred]

Apparently Kanada will be paying $150 million (double) for each of theirs so that Israel gets a free one for each one Kanada buys.

[Norman]

Goodness fellow commentators, someone might get the impression that our "only friend" in the M.E. is really our enemy in disguise.

[Backgammon]

US sending 20 brand new F-16s to Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood

News about F 16's to Muslim Brotherhood


bing.com/news

Obama Admin Going Ahead with F-16 Shipment to Muslim Brotherhood-Ruled Egypt
TheBlaze.com·1 day ago The Obama administration is going ahead with a delivery of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Muslim Brotherhood-led country, even as Amnesty International is calling…
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obama-admin-going-ahead=with-f-16-shipment-to-muslim-brotherhood-ruled-egypt/

http://www.weaselzippers.u/2012/1/11/obama-regime-to-deliver-20-f-16-fighter-jets-to-muslim-brotherhood-run-eqypt/



More INSANITY From The Obama Administration: We Are Sending …

www.sodahead.com/united-states/more-insanity-from-the-obama

[Norman]

To Backgammon, perhaps there is a method to his madness, the "O". Payback time for the Bibi trying to influence the reelection? Let's see, the al Qaeda rebels in Syria, the Brotherhood in Egypt with their new F-16s, interesting thoughts, maybe?

[SKINFLINT]

http://news.yahoo.com/air-force-approves-start-f-35-pilot-training-000449972--finance.html Can't wait.

[john]

Exclusive: U.S. waived laws to keep F-35 on track with China-made parts

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/03/us-lockheed-f-idUSBREA020VA20140103

(Reuters) - The Pentagon repeatedly waived laws banning Chinese-built components on U.S. weapons in order to keep the $392 billion Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter program on track in 2012 and 2013, even as U.S. officials were voicing concern about China's espionage and military buildup.

According to Pentagon documents reviewed by Reuters, chief U.S. arms buyer Frank Kendall allowed two F-35 suppliers, Northrop Grumman Corp and Honeywell International Inc, to use Chinese magnets for the new warplane's radar system, landing gears and other hardware. Without the waivers, both companies could have faced sanctions for violating federal law and the F-35 program could have faced further delays.

"It was a pretty big deal and an unusual situation because there's a prohibition on doing defense work in China, even if it's inadvertent," said Frank Kenlon, who recently retired as a senior Pentagon procurement official and now teaches at American University. "I'd never seen this happen before."

The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, is examining three such cases involving the F-35, the U.S. military's next generation fighter, the documents show.

The GAO report, due March 1, was ordered by U.S. lawmakers, who say they are concerned that Americans firms are being shut out of the specialty metals market, and that a U.S. weapon system may become dependent on parts made by a potential future adversary.

The waivers apply to inexpensive parts, including $2 magnets, installed on 115 F-35 test, training and production aircraft, the last of which are due to be delivered in May 2014. Lawmakers noted that several U.S. companies make similar magnets.