President Trump has criticized Lockheed Martin for the high cost of its jets. And now, Morgan Brennan takes a deeper look into how the defense contractor is using high-tech ways to bring down the price.
From order lead time to sourcing all of subcomponents and subsystems for a new fighter (that's actually safe, unlike the hundreds of A/B model teen series), 4 years in early production seems about right. It took 10 years before we ever got working FLIR pods on the F-16C model, as they bone-yarded or sold off all the As that didn't crash. We lost 143 F-16s with 71 fatalities just in their first 10 years of service from 1978-1988. Every single F-35A/B/C that has rolled off the line has integrated FLIR in the nose, which also acts as an IRST in conjunction with the 6 DAS IR cameras. They also have the most advanced AESA RADAR ever produced, fused with all the RF and IR sensors. Unlike prior generation fighters where all the ancillary combat systems were bolted on or took up weapons hardpoints after-the-fact, JSF has all of that integrated into the airframe from the start.
Bradly Life is not a video game. If you want the bestest fastest most expensive rocketship plane go ask Optimus Prime for it. Adults have have budgets to consider and since the F-35 in no way makes our country safer it's best to shit can it. Yes you are right it does make Lockheed a richer company but that was never one of our goals.
When the News reports on the F-35 they feature most on the cost to design and build the Navy version that cost way more than the other Two versions that are lesser by time now...
The letter of intent is conditional on three more things...1.) An assessment test I'm scheduled for this Friday (a test similar to the military ASVAB test), 2.) Passing a urine drug screen (no problem) and 3.) My background check being approved (I have one stupid felony, possession of an unregistered firearm, which might be a problem). If I get past those three things I'll be made an offer which is when I'll learn how much they are paying. I suspect at my experience level I'll start out in the low 20s per hour. I drove 3 hours to the hiring event and the "interview" was literally one question; "How much experience do you have in aircraft maintenance and/or manufacturing?" I said "7 years" and he shook my hand & said "welcome aboard."
I went to the hiring event in Palmdale, and I told them that I have 13 years of experience.. And after almost 35 min they said me :congratulations, wait for the letter.
julini - I've said yes to Lockheed Martin. They made me an offer. The pay is almost $30.00 an hour. Incredible benefits I hear, too. And a few thousand in moving expenses. Wow. Much more than I was expecting. I just did my UA and my background check is being processed. That's where I might get rejected since I have one issue on my criminal record. Felony ownership of an unregistered firearm. I sure hope to move to Ft. Worth soon!
It doesn’t matter what Trump, any president or any politician for that matter thinks about the price. Private industry calls the shots. Not the government.
Super High Technology Jet Fighter , Compartmentalization of each part to various discrete aerospace companies could help bring the price down.... as long as they are not told what they are Assembling .
It never occured to you not to build it? Lets see-If we don't build it America is safer without it and we don't have to pay for it. Down side-Lockheed is richer if we build it. That's not a good enough reason. I love the fact that Pentagon officials always say HEY WE NEVER ORDERED THIS SHIT. It's always some fucken senator that has a defense plant in his district. And that is why it gets built.
@@scott.c9587 Just complicated. Engineering on these things is at the edge of the known. It's never been a cheap trade. If unions were the problem you'd see many other nations building things as advanced. I'd doubt those making the money out of this benefit from unions.
If you work at one of these weapon factory's now's a good time to go on strike and demand $400 dollars a hour. Actually while you're at it just demand that you get paid in solid gold and silver.
Clinton Administration sold China Lockheed high-speed aircraft project management and assembly line operations in the 1990s. Bush family transfered aerospace defense holdings to China with a merger in 2019 (Neil Bush). China is setting up to acquire more GE fighter engine technology.
hi JJ... keep up make more F-35 with twin jet-engines... DONT worry about currencys... many americans planes are twin motors... some planes are single motor... look at ussr russia have too make planes with twin jet engines... do ussr russia talk about currencys RUBLES or not or shh secret shh or free
emgpentinkx muhm why russian/soviet never use newest aircraft design in real combat ? ' hi EM... yes ussr russia have new planes are pakfat-50 / su-57... what for and why need for... where ussr russia get currency come from... ussr russia is a big copy steal from american planes
