Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Even I'm pretty surprised at the proposed 32 unit procurement made for FY11 by the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcomm. I was predicting 40 a/c in total in FY11, with the actual significant cuts in orders not starting until FY12. Maybe somewhere between 32-42 will be negotiated in the end.

But with the Pentagon apparently estimating FY11's avg cost @ $206m ea, based on 42 jets, it will obviously be a point of interest to see where actual procurement costs go if in the end, assumed order schedules actually do go out the window (as should at least be predicted for follow-on FY budgets).

Is this just the tip of an imminent comprehensive schedule adjustment, to be announced by DoD as many have been anticipating, or a short-term hit compensated for in FRP? Your thoughts..