Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Can someone please tell me the latest cost estimates for each F-35 version (flyaway unit cost full production)? Or at least point me in the right direction… Much appreciated.

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Elite Joined: Aug 02, 2006 Posts: 909 Status: Offline

Elite Joined: Aug 02, 2006 Posts: 909 Status: Offline

PhillyGuy wrote:

Can someone please tell me the latest cost estimates for each F-35 version (flyaway unit cost full production)? Or at least point me in the right direction… Much appreciated.

$48.5 million F-35A
$61 million F-35B

GAO - 2006 report (given in 2005 dollars).

But this is believe to be flyaway + R&D amortization.

If you take $40 billion divided by 2500 planes, the R&D tag is about $16 million per aircraft.

What would a Block 60 F-16 go for right now?

Just a WAG but I'd say $40 to $45 million flyaway. The question to ask tho is would we have to pay the UAE? Confused

They pretty much bankrolled the entire Block 60 run after all. It was a purely commercial contract with LockMart with DoD blessings.

Irony is funny that way.

checksixx wrote:

You're right...you know...with all those B747's that we've been shooting down lately, the gun makes it a lot easier...LoL

You know history likes to repeat itself, and not once an airliner will be used as oversized, 'cheap' cruise missile. And the internal gun is the best way to deal with them, when needed too.

Elite Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 1021 Status: Offline

Really? So how many airliners have you shot down and what effect did the AtA missiles have on them vs. the gun? Any info you could provide would be very interesting to hear! Thanks.

I didn't shoot down any aircraft in my life (not to mention all those in video games Wink

), but, limiting ourself to the jet age:

1. El Al Flight 402 - 27th July 1955 - Lockheed Constellation, shot down by Bulgarian MiG-15s (that one was actually shredded to peaces by the MiGs cannons)

2. Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 - 21st February 1973 - Boeing 727, shot down by Israeli F-4s (shoot at with 20mm with intention to cripple, not destroy, aircraft made an unsuccessful emergency landing, only 5 survivors)

3. Korean Air Lines Flight 902 - 20th April 1978 - Boeing 707, was victim of two Soviet Su-15 (two R-60 missiles, killed two passengers and caused cabin decompression, forcing plane to land)

4. Korean Air Lines Flight 007 - 1th September 1983 - Boeing 747, shot down by Soviet Su-15 (probably by two R-98M1 missiles, no survivors).

By that 4 incidents one can take a conclusion, that heat seeking missiles are the worst for the job, and the SARH missiles give a much higher kill probability. Yet, a gun still give a choice, one may kill the target, or just cripple it - forcing it to land.

Elite Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 1021 Status: Offline

Brother, I don't know what the ROE's are in your country, but most everywhere you do not engage to "cripple" an aircraft. You put rounds into an aircraft, you should expect it to go down...plain and simple. My take is, you attempt to "cripple" an aircraft by firing at/into it, you should be held as a criminal.

Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 325

How about some pictures of the rear end with the engine swivel? I'm curious to see if they went with the same design as the prototype. Also, some low angle floor shots looking up would be cool.

SnakeHandler wrote:

How about some pictures of the rear end with the engine swivel? I'm curious to see if they went with the same design as the prototype. Also, some low angle floor shots looking up would be cool.

I believe the STOVL propulsion system hasn't changed much. For a cool video (showing alot of good clips of stuff like BF1 and the engine) go here:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/f35/index.html

go to the link on the right hand side that says "F-35 2007 Year-End Review".

Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 325

Cool video. How much lighter did they make AF-1 than AA-1?

Another HUGE milestone for the program, the first stovl F-35 goes out to the flightline (on schedule I might add).[/quote]

Dear Hillary,

Can you please get us some BLK 60’s with all the toys until this platform is proven? Wink

The 2006 cost figures are flyaway in 2002, not 2005 dollars. No R&D.

Average procurement for all JSFs is given by GAO as $86 million in then-year dollars. This is flyaway plus profits, overheads & spares, but not R&D. It applies to an average over the entire program including LRIPs, assuming target production rates are reached on schedule and maintained.

At a rough estimate, the average procurement cost for the A is $75 m (TY dollars again) and the B and C are around $110 million.

Elite Joined: Jul 22, 2005 Posts: 915 Status: Offline

VarkVet wrote:

Another HUGE milestone for the program, the first stovl F-35 goes out to the flightline (on schedule I might add).

Dear Hillary,

Can you please get us some BLK 60’s with all the toys until this platform is proven? Wink

Ha ha. Keep dreamin' If Billary gets in you'll be lucky if you get anything at all.

Forum: F-35 Lightning II

First STOVL F-35 Rollout Ceremony