Comments on: Boeing Unveils Its F-15 Silent Eagle—With Fifth-Generation “Add-Ons”

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what does acai fruit look like — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:45:00 +0000

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By: D. E.Rodriguez

D. E.Rodriguez — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:40:17 +0000

You raise a valid point, figawitz, (and one I missed) on comparing the (projected) cost of an F-15 SE to the (projected) cost of an F-35. As you know when comparing cost/prices between aircraft one has to be sure that one is comparing apples to apples. For example,are development costs, support, training, life cycle costs, logistics, etc., etc. spread out/included?

In the case of the F-35 it becomes even more complicated, as the final “fixed price” will depend not only on the above but also on specific variants, models and configurations; the “learning curve” (price changes as more and more aircraft are produced);and—related to this–in the case of the multinational JSF, how many countries sign contracts for how many aircraft, so that overall costs can be divided/spread out over the total number of committed-to aircraft.

Then, there are also offset/co-production factors and considerations. While some abroad are asking for a fixed price commitment from Lockheed Martin, the company is reluctant to give such right now before knowing more hard numbers on production and other factors. According to one source,”We ourselves don’t know what the exact price will be.” Burbage [general manager of the JSF program]says it will not be until 2012 that Lockheed will agree with the Pentagon on a fixed price – and then only for the delivery of the series of JSFs that are ordered in that year.”

Thus, while prospective customers want to know how much each of their F-35's will cost, Lockheed Martin needs to know, how many F-35s the consortium will eventually buy—among other things. At the moment F-35 “prices” are all over the military aviation map. It almost becomes a case of what came first, the chicken or the egg.

By: figawitz

figawitz — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:58:04 +0000

Thats great unfortunately you have no idea what you're talking about. $40 million more for an F-22, thats great, you know the F-22 can be $20 bucks each, buy one get one free it doesnt matter if no one else is allowed to buy them. Please read the article again, this aircraft is not being offered to the US Air Force. Secondly, if you really think Boeing hasnt been doing extensive R&D on the redesign of the tails your clueless. You can bet that by the time this aircraft was handed over they would have tested the “load bearing structures” thoroughly. As far as the stealth aspect is concerned, read up some more on Janes or other sites about how they will lower the RCS of the intakes before you type any more. Now think of maintainability, spares, parts availability on a jet that is based on a design that easily supported and has been around long enough to have a real good widespread knowledge of how to support it. Also, check your numbers, “For $30M less per jet you get an aircraft …the F-35.” If you really think that plane is 30M less than the proposed $100M F-15 SE you are misinformed. Peace

By: D. E.Rodriguez

D. E.Rodriguez — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:55:43 +0000

Moderatewarrior:

As ususal, to the point, with no mincing of words

Thanks for your opinion

Dorian

By: ModerateWarrior

ModerateWarrior — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:34:36 +0000

I'm sorry–I just can't stand by and watch our ANG, defense press and loyal allies lied to. This “Silent Eagle” is a total crock of horse manure. It is certainly no more stealthy than say my old BMW, or perhaps that rusty steel basketball hoop in the alley behind my house. New internal weapons bays–Oh MY!! ..not to mention new untested revised load-bearing structures such as newly canted tails means billions of non-recurring R&D costs and Seek Eagle costs.. but don't let that stop the Saint Louis spin machine–this baby is Stealth-Y. NOT! So that Su-35 can shoot an Eagle from 35 miles as opposed to 45? PLEASE STOP, MR WIZARD! For $40M per jet more you get an aircraft that is 30 times more deadly, 1000 times stealthier and has already been tested–that is the F-22. For $30M less per jet you get an aircraft that has 30% more range, is a real multi-role strike aircraft and still a 100 times stealthier–the F-35.
Boeing–ST LOUIS, you should be ashamed of yourselves!