F-35B Needs a Plan B: Options to Rising Costs of the Aircraft

Abstract

In December 2010 the Commandant was quoted as stating "there is not a plan B" to the F-35B program.1 In effect our Marine Corps has "derivatives of plan A," based on a 1998 decision, that all rely on the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B being produced. "We decided we would skip a generation of what we called fourth-generation airplanes . . . and we would end up putting all of our money and our hopes in the F-35B." This decision has become particularly troubling in regard to the high costs associated with the program, the program's current status, and our United States Marine Corps reputation for plans and preparations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA551831

Entities

People

  • Christopher J. Cannon

Organizations

  • Marine Corps Combat Development Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Costs
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronically Scanned Array
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Life Cycle Costs
  • Life Cycles
  • Marine Corps
  • Procurement
  • Short Takeoff Aircraft
  • United States
  • Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Naval Engineering and Maritime Security
  • Systems Analysis and Design