The SAR shows F-16 cost per flying hour for the F-16C/D...combined. It is in the general interest to the F-35 fan-base that the F-16 cost as much as possible.
Figures for new F-16s are not available since the USAF doesn't have them.
A few points.
The USAF has been rapidly de-skilling and mis-managing its' aircraft maintenance community.
USAF cost per flying hours for 2008-2012 are here.
This snippet from that source shows the difference between an F-16C single-seat and a F-16D twin-seat aircraft.
(click image to make larger)
Yes, the F-16D has its own maintenance issues being a two-seater. In grand total, since there are less two-seaters, there are less flying hours.
That is a big difference between an F-16C and a D.
There are no two-seat F-35s.
There are no F-35s in final operational trim that have been in a real squadron for a few years.
Here is an older study (PDF) on some of the issues surrounding F-16 cost per flying hour in the USAF.
So even a poorly managed and old single-seat F-16 is significantly cheaper to fly per hour than the current DOD F-35 cost per flying hour estimates.
Of interest, an LM brief to Israel in 2007 stated that the F-35 would be the same acquisition cost of an F-16 and 20 percent less to own and operate. So for 2012, if LM was to be believed, an F-35 should cost $17852 per flying hour.
That will not happen.
6 comments:
Not a surprise.
The F-35 is 2x the weight of the F-16 (at least the A model).
Cost and weight track pretty closely.
Just estimates. No one will know until they get operational.
Ah! The old "just estimates" meme.
Good professional managers following Strategic Management principles and know what they are doing produce good estimates which they are able to achieve. The smarter ones under promise and over deliver.
Can't say the same for the JSF Program nor those drinking the Kool Aid filled with such memes.
As soon as a negative number appear it's explained with the "just an estimate".
But when a positive number - yet still an estimated one - is presented by LM themselves it's suddenly evidence of the F-35's superiority.
The scary thing about the F-35 is the way LM is locking up access to maintenance. You get the impression that we will be paying through the nose for as long as we have the thing.
No one is going to re tender the maintenance contract on the F-35
To AA Tanker -
...Then don't advertise definitively an improved hourly operational cost for the F-35 over the current F-16 in the marketing material!
Geezus.
That said, why apparently does the D F-16 cost so much more than the C, while the F-15D costs little more than the F-15C to operate?
Merely being a two-seat doesn't seem to be the factoring point.
And yes, let's please compare operational cost of a new-build next-gen F-16C+ (with AESA), to that of an operational Block III F-35A. Thanks.
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