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No. None have. However Denmark has re-tendered their competition and there is a chance that they may go to Gripen or Rafale, purely due to better offsets. Still the price and capability differential between these two and the F-35 is significantly skewed towards the latter. Not a cancellation...

No, the reality is that taking current costsis also not an accurate prediction of prices when Canada will actually buy the aircraft. That will occur after 2019, when (due to a large expansion of manufacturing scale and advanced learning), the price should come down to the $85 million level...

It is page 65, and its the total recurring cost of $2293 million in the 2014 base (I did it by the other method by adding up the Work Based Elements and rounding up to 121 million... dividing it by 19 comes to $120.68 million).  2013 is $124 million per aircraft. Recurring flyaway is probably...

Mark your using the wrong figures that give an unrealistic impression of the costs. You're citing total flyaway which includes non-recurring costs and ancillary equipment. That's not a fair cost to add in because it includes stuff like the partnership office, toolings, and diminishing...

Slightly, though I would be extremely wary of joining Saab at this stage. Norway discounted the program due to these challenges, and the Swiss look likely to leave now. Look at it this way: Saab proposes to  take an existing design, add a bigger engine, new radar and avionics, beef up its...

Over 70% of the NG's systems exist on paper, and its not likely to get into service before 2018, if not 2020. Saab has completely over promised and under delivered with the aircraft: They stated its unit cost would be $50 million: its now $105 million. They stated its operational cost (in front...

This is a broad Apples to Apples comparison with what would be reoccurring flyaway cost, all in 2012 dollars: Gripen E- $105 million (Swiss AF Fixed contract price). It should be noted that even the Swiss are dubious about Saab's ability to deliver on their promises. Its quite likely that...

Please reread what I wrote. I clearly state I'm asking a question and at the same time acknowledge that other assets were being used to intercept slow movers. The tactics I note were the ones meant to deal with slow moving aircraft due to the speed differential, like wide arcs or two aircraft...

Sorry, a bit of a question and a point. First, weren't the helis also being used for quick JTF/troop insertion? Also, I disagree that jets were "operationally ineffective against slow movers." CF-18s have been routinely tasked over the past 20+ years on drug interdiction missions where slow...

I agree, though with reservations. I just can't conceive of a threat that would require long range IADS system like PAC, S-3/400, or THAAD. Moreover I can't see how it might be effectively used in a domestic security operation and not be considered overkill. I would assume that any unknown...

First, the cost hasn't really increased $20 million for Canada, at least not what policymakers actually saw as their price tag between 2010 and 2013. $60~65 million was the 2001 Base year price, which Lockheed uses in PR statements. $85 million is the 2012 base year price. It went up about $10...

Current unit costs are basically $120 million per aircraft... so $35 million is excessive. $5 million or so is more realistic as a risk (excluding exchange rate fluctuations which would affect all options to varying degrees.) The first 15 aircraft will cost more as they will be earlier units...

That is not accurate at all. As I made clear to you before, all the other options are as expensive or more so than the F-35. Purchasing an Super Hornet (the only plausible option that could be cheaper) is significantly more expensive through FMS with the admin fee, research fee and basic...

Deep maintenance operates a bit differently with the F-35 than previous programs. The prognostic management system identifies parts that require replacing real time, rather than usual practice of time limited parts. Its also a modular design, so that major components are easier to remove and...

The other two bidders are Rafale ($105 million) and Eurofighter ($115 million). Both have much higher purchase and operational costs based on figures from their Audit Agencies. Dassault doesn't go below cost (actually they have been criticized in the UAE and Indian negotiations for uncompetitive...

That's going to be the F-35. By your criteria there are only three options: F-35, Super Hornet and Gripen. Acquisitions costs of the Super Hornet and Gripen are both higher: 90~95 million (at least) RRF for the Hornet next year based on SAR and the fees incurred through FMS*; 80~100 million for...

Great book, however Brooks' law is not as applicable in this case as one might think. Brooks focuses on projects that try to accelerate development by adding developers: that's not what occurred with the JSF. As a rebuttal I'll cite Meneely, Rotella and Williams's (MRW) 2010 piece Does Adding...

Portions of it are currently in the 2a release, with added functionality coming in Block 2 and 3. The planned development of functionality has not disqualified any aircraft or any program so long as it meets Canadian delivery requirements.  If that was the case then the Cyclone would have...

I'm sorry, how doesn't it meet Canada's statement of requirements? I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to.

Look, I have not gone out and simply insulted people (though I have acted a bit too hotly during one exchange), so I'd appreciate it that you extend me the same courtesy. Its also bothersome that you're just lumping me in as a "cheerleader." As I've said before, I do try to be impartial and...