Trump keeps delivering BEFORE taking office! - F-35 cost to be "aggressively reduced"

Per CNN Money

Lockheed Martin's CEO gave President-elect Donald Trump her "personal commitment" to cut the cost of the stealthy F-35 fighter jet.
Marillyn Hewson said she had a "very good conversation" with Trump Friday, the day after he tweeted that he was considering replacing the costly F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with a modified version of a cheaper jet.
"I've heard his message loud and clear about reducing the cost of the F-35," Hewson said in a statement. "I gave him my personal commitment to drive the cost down aggressively."
She added, "We're ready to deliver."

Can the President-Elect make you any happier? One friggin Tweet and this guy makes shockwaves. He'll be the the ultimate modern President. He'll CONNECT with the people at the same time as driving an agenda. His power will be great.

a reply to: Tempter

Holy crap, a CNN source.

It might be pro-Trump though?

Just a FYI, Liberal heads might seriously explode.

And the Clinton News Network reported this?

Are they feeling ok? What's the catch?

a reply to: Tempter

i like ike

The cost of the F-35 has been dropping already. The latest buy is down an additional 5.5% and 1.2% for the A and B, which puts the A model at 60% lower than the initial purchase, and approaching the $85M target per airframe.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
The cost of the F-35 has been dropping already. The latest buy is down an additional 5.5% and 1.2% for the A and B, which puts the A model at 60% lower than the initial purchase, and approaching the $85M target per airframe.

So you're saying this is already part of the plan? Why the announcement from the CEO then?

a reply to: Tempter

The F-35 is working out to be a cheap plane, the more they make the cheaper it will be.

I've mentioned that the SU-35 is the only "equivalent" on the market that is cheaper. The Rafale and Eurofighter are more costly.

It would be foolish to drop the F-35 now anyways, it's a winning platform.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
The cost of the F-35 has been dropping already. The latest buy is down an additional 5.5% and 1.2% for the A and B, which puts the A model at 60% lower than the initial purchase, and approaching the $85M target per airframe.

It's been overpriced the entire time Zaphod, you know this.

a reply to: Vector99

Do you know what it's already capable of doing? It's years ahead of everything but the F-22, and it's electronic systems are already better than their systems. That kind of aircraft doesn't come cheap. An F-18, which isn't nearly as capable, runs $80M. The F-16E/F that the UAE bought, that is the most capable F-16 ever built ran them at least $80M an aircraft for the initial purchase. The A model currently stands at $102.1M per aircraft, and is dropping.

a reply to: Tempter

PR. They may get the price down faster, and find ways to shave some out of the development program, but the plan has always been to be down near $85M per aircraft by the time full rate production starts.

They probably funneled some of that cash into other black ops projects. Either way, it is nearly complete. Wouldnt make sense to drop it now, though it should have been a decade ago.

If our government didnt start so many damned wars, we wouldnt have to spend so much tax money. I say cut everything except maybe roads. Seriously, why can we have an F35 and cant fix I35? Can Trump make I35 great again? Please.

a reply to: Tempter

Because as a CEO, you want to get along with the soon to be head of your largest, and best, customer. He growls, you cower and show your throat...

originally posted by: Vector99

originally posted by: Zaphod58
The cost of the F-35 has been dropping already. The latest buy is down an additional 5.5% and 1.2% for the A and B, which puts the A model at 60% lower than the initial purchase, and approaching the $85M target per airframe.

It's been overpriced the entire time Zaphod, you know this.

It's not a plane with a computer in it.

It's a computer with a plane built around it.

Think about that. It's a new kind of weapon for a new age. And that ain't going to come cheap.

In 20+ years the F-35 will be vindicated, as people will realize the things they weren't told about it made it worth it's high price.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I understand the rant, but really beyond the f-22 what does it do?

It can land vertically, cool.

It can relay data real-time from distances, cool.

It can coordinate strikes from a distance, cool.

Why the F* do we have satellites then?

a reply to: RAY1990

It's certainly beginning to look that way.

I was, initially, not a fan. But as its development has continued, and the glowing pilot reports, I've become more impressed as time goes on. I think the Air Force, Marines and Navy have a war winner on their hands...or soon will have.

originally posted by: pirhanna
They probably funneled some of that cash into other black ops projects. Either way, it is nearly complete. Wouldnt make sense to drop it now, though it should have been a decade ago.

If our government didnt start so many damned wars, we wouldnt have to spend so much tax money. I say cut everything except maybe roads. Seriously, why can we have an F35 and cant fix I35? Can Trump make I35 great again? Please.

Nah, learn to fly an F-35!

Can't beat em' -- join em! That whole VTOL thing would make landing in the back yard after work possible!

a reply to: Kettu

It's a computer with a plane built around it.

We've had that tech since the 50's-60's. Now it is fancier with no functional advantage.

a reply to: Kettu

My limited understanding is that's an understatement.

It's at just beyond the cutting edge of military hardware.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Tempter

PR. They may get the price down faster, and find ways to shave some out of the development program, but the plan has always been to be down near $85M per aircraft by the time full rate production starts.

If they can get it reduced three years quicker than they planned before, how much would that save the taxpayer. How many soldiers could they pay with that savings?

Maybe they have been keeping the reduction slower because nobody challenged them to reduce it. I understand how government works at the lower level and that overcharging continues till someone says something. I am guessing it is the same way on big expenditures.

originally posted by: Vector99
a reply to: Kettu

It's a computer with a plane built around it.

We've had that tech since the 50's-60's. Now it is fancier with no functional advantage.

What Ive read tells me its very different than everything else when it comes to stealth. Is that true?