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Do or Die for Joint Strike Fighter 'Monopoly'

Last week, an Australian think tank published a report claiming that the $337-billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, built by Lockheed Martin, wouldn’t have nearly the stealth capability that the manufacturer and the U.S. Air Force claim. The report sparked a lively debate over at the Ares blog, essentially pitting supporters of the F-35 against proponents […]

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Last week, an Australian think tank published a report claiming that the $337-billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, built by Lockheed Martin, wouldn't have nearly the stealth capability that the manufacturer and the U.S. Air Force claim. The report sparked a lively debate over at the Ares blog, essentially pitting supporters of the F-35 against proponents of the larger, more expensive F-22.

At stake isn't just some mil-nerd bragging rights over which plane is best, editor Bill Sweetman notes. "The
JSF business plan, if fulfilled, results in a virtual fighter monopoly in the West and its allies." All other current competitors -- including Lockheed's own F-22 -- will go extinct for a lack of orders, putting the U.S. and its allies in a position where the JSF must perform perfectly, or Western air power will be in big, big trouble.

Problem is, lately the increasingly hyperbolic claims coming out of the JSF program office have undermined the confidence of many observers in what is shaping up to be the only tactical fighter for the foreseeable future. Sweetman highlighted a few of these dubious claims:

In 2008 alone, we heard that:

  • The JSF will achieve a 4:1 exchange ratio in air combat over any other fighter.
  • The
    JSF will penetrate to its targets, negate or destroy threatening fighters and missiles, attack and escape without being detected.
  • *The JSF will cost less to acquire and operate than the [roughly $50-million] Gripen NG, and by inference any fighter in the world. *
  • *The
    JSF is lower-risk than the Gripen NG, despite the fact that the latter combines a simple modification of an in-service airframe with a proven engine. *

"If the U.S. military aircraft enterprise ... had a stellar record of delivering what they promise on time and on budget, one might be persuaded to accept their claims. But they don't," Sweetman contended, highlighting huge cost increases for the B-2 and F-22, among others.

If your track record is Ishtar* and Howard the Duck, and you tell me that you've got something that beats Gone With The Wind and Star Wars, you are going to have to prove it with more than a PowerPoint, or "trust me, but it's secret."*

[PHOTO: Lockheed Martin]*____

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