Delete comment from: Elements Of Power
Hi Nuno,
Nope, not the aircraft. If the DoD wanted to field the first several hundred with only dumb bomb and Sidewinder capability and little else, they could have done it just as fast as the F-16. (See my 16 February post). I'd say well over half the 'delays' have been CHOSEN by the Customer in the supposed pursuit of technical risk reduction, and in the process induced greater programmatic risks. About 50-70% of the rest were induced by the Customer when decisions made between the X-plane and the F-35 design configuration decisions were made and drove the weight reduction effort. (as an aside, for years critics of the B-2 b*tched about a delay in the development that in the end was shown to have been caused by a major government requirements change to add on a 'low level' mission requirement. I had to listen to moron journalists and Reformers carp about what they imagined in their own little heads for years.) My assertions in regards to delays, I've noticed, have never been credibly challenged. My question to anyone is: Why do you believe the people with no practical knowledge of the program more than those with the knowledge and background?
Feb 25, 2014, 11:20:57 PM