LM practically designed the F-22 as a favor to a government.

It competed with the YF-23 and a down selected MacAir product.

If it wasn't for the F-35 win, LM would be left to survive on F-16 exports and might even sell that to Boeing. The fact that the country is broke has NOTHING to do with aviation defense contractors, but it has EVERYTHING to do with government politics.

Yes but it has always been that way. No "politics" = no shiny toys. Including political graft and political campaign contributions from said companies. The fact that the country is broke has a huge affect on what money is left to spend on defense. Look at the lack of USAF contracts over the years. E-10 dead. B-52SOJ dead, JCM, both those coming back in different forms. C-5 upgrades going bad. C-130 fleet needing more money for upgrades. What has the USAF purchased this year? Well some C-17s forced on it that aren't in a plan by political lobby. Fortunately a handful of JSF. Some C-130s. Reapers ( hello persistent strike in GWOT dirt operations) and a shiny new new generation 737-700 with winglets for the fatbastard congress to ride home in over the holidays for the VIP fleet. THAT is our recapitalization.


You think LM saw any part of the increased defense spending for the war? Hell no. In fact, they tightened the leash. Meanwhile, LM has to figure out a way to design a state-of-art fighter jet, and still buy the best quality hardware to protect the nation. So what happens? The engineering workforce is reduced and the remaining engineers must do double the work for the same amount of money to keep the blissfully ignorant taxpayer from complaining to their local congressmen. But it's ok, F-35 flybys sooth the soul .
It also flies by doing a lot of guess work in SDD that should have already been figured out in the previous engineering phase under a world business plan that had no options but to hold to the original production schedule to make an "affordable" fighter. Now that many of the Team JSF partners are not buying early, there is a cost problem. Sorry, it isn't all happy face. Yes there are a lot of Team JSF working hard and doing good work. However this program is so complex that a happy face press release isn't going to keep costs from going into a cruise climb. Orders are needed now. Lots of them. If that was to happen costs would come down. However, anytime things are extended out over years from the original plan, example USAF pulling 48 jets off of their order and then extending production out to 2040, costs of material and manpower are going to rise. F-35 may prove itself to be an excellent tactical aircraft and maybe the best of all time. I doubt we will see the "affordable" end of it show up any time before 2020.

Go boilermakers and yes watch the news this week.

If it wasn't for the F-35 win, LM would be left to survive on F-16 exports and might even sell that to Boeing. The fact that the country is broke has NOTHING to do with aviation defense contractors, but it has EVERYTHING to do with government politics.

Pics! Pics! Great News.

Classy move with getting the CATB up too. Congrats.