tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post6133695646343606822..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: The Funding GameGeorge Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-17219231915241225242007-08-02T21:41:00.000-04:002007-08-02T21:41:00.000-04:00A few points:1. I'm comfortable stating without fe...A few points:<BR/><BR/>1. I'm comfortable stating without fear of <I>informed</I> contradiction, that MOST of the cost increases experienced by the F-22 program are due to the stretching out of the development program through capricious Congressional funding antics, either by directly holding up development funds required to proceed at all or by providing too little funding to accomplish contractual objectives without cutting too many corners and suffering the 'hits' for the shoestring effort. Both cases are too true for most major acquisition programs today.<BR/><BR/>2. My money is on Lockmart leveraging F-35 and other technology to keep the Raptor viable, dependent upon the feckless Congress caring at all and providing the dinero.<BR/><BR/>3. Hmmmm. Choose between a) modifying F-15s and F-16s or b) buying survivable F-22s. I'll take "b" any time. 'Low observability' <B>IS</B> the price of admission in tomorrow's (and in some places today's) battlespace.<BR/><BR/>4. The main impetus behind the SDB was to keep ANY fighter-type A/C a viable competitor in the air-to-mud arena. The SDB lets the fighter types pretend to be real bomber pilots a little longer. <BR/><BR/>5. Integrating new weapons (Like SDB) onto aircraft is pretty much routine, with occasional and scattered episodes of excitement. Funding for integration is usually no problem, because unscrupulous Congressmembers can use it as an excuse not to buy more of something else that is more expensive -- even if the 'something else' is needed more.<BR/><BR/>5. Jerry Lewis (the one the French don't know) is a poser and pure 'clown' who has had it in for the F-22 ever since he had his his manhood impugned by the AF over some little disagreement years ago. I have it on pretty good authority that he once called the AF heads in and told them he was going to cancel the F-22 or the Discoverer II program and it was the AF's call. We know which one the AF chose. <BR/><BR/>BTW and slightly off topic: Lewis was also ranting at the time about how the intel types weren't even able to analyze all the satellite data they were already collecting, so therefore they didn't need any more to analyze. Only one problem: Discoverer II was all about developing a <I>real-time</I> capability. Like I said..'clown'.SMSgt Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08126690689798203866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-4800634670379165662007-08-02T04:00:00.000-04:002007-08-02T04:00:00.000-04:00If this surprises anyone don’t be. Many mod progra...If this surprises anyone don’t be. Many mod programs for both the F-15C/E and the F-16C were cancelled or delayed because of the F-22 program and its staggering cost increases over its development. I can only guess how much money it will cost to modify the existing F-22’s to handle the SDB or to fight avionics obsolescence that I’m sure exists right now.billmillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01935148113752374830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-14638351259867924892007-08-01T22:58:00.000-04:002007-08-01T22:58:00.000-04:00~Sigh~Yes, it is always more of the same with the ...~Sigh~<BR/>Yes, it is always more of the same with the false colors flown by cowardly opponents of national defense. See my graphic at "http://elementsofpower.blogspot.com/search?q=Acquisition+101".<BR/>I created it after reading another one of your excellent posts.SMSgt Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08126690689798203866noreply@blogger.com