bring_it_on
I really should change my personal text
- Joined
- 4 July 2013
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I don't think you would another $20 Billion to completely re-create what you've just developed. Same is true on the engine side. It could be less than half of that or even less still. Derivatives are not cheap regardless but if you could get a larger strike oriented offshoot of the NGAD design utilizing engines, sensors, and other equipment matured via the initial $20 Bn upfront investment, or matured by industry, then you can affordably meet demand for future capability. Think something that evolves from F-47 design to eventually replace F-15E's etc - $5-10 Bn EMD cost to replace. 200+ aircraft and since the government owns a large part of the design IP, it can have design and production teams compete for who designs and builds this variant.It is completely unrealistic. What program can spend 20 billion over four years getting an airframe through EMD and then walk away to another airframe which will also require another 20 billion...
If the talk about the service buying into the design and IP, allowing it this level of flexibility, is true then there must have been a higher upfront investment (OEM's still need to make money and if they can't stretch this out into a multi-decade production and support enterprise then one has to assume they would charge more upfront) and if the Air Force has made this investment then it makes sense for it to continue to follow through on that strategy to get a return..if they dont do that then they've just invested a bunch of upfront capital to own something that they won't use and get the benefit off to either save money on sustainment/upgrades or derivatives.
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