New Omnibus Spending Bill (American) adds F-35s, F/A-18s

Assuming the Omnibus survives the Senate, it seems the F-35 and F/A-18 lines are getting moderately big orders.

The F/A-18 line is getting another 24 Rhinos.

The F-35 is getting 86 birds, 20 more than the Pentagon asked for: 56 A models, 22 B models and 8 C models. That's ten additional As, 2 Bs and 4 Cs. The Navy seems to be being dragged kicking and screaming into the F-35 fold.

news.usni.org...

www.janes.com...

a reply to: anzha

The Navy decided they weren't going to place a big order until they could declare IOC, but they can't do that with the number of airframes they currently have, so they have to place a big order, but they won't do that until they can declare IOC........

a reply to: Zaphod58

Kicking and screaming...as I said.

What doesn't the new Pork Bill add? Oh, funding for my basement work. Maybe I ought to call my local congressman, he might be able to squeeze that in under environmental improvement or something ... they seem to be paying for everything else out there.

I know, I'm gonna get hammered here but if the US would just quit bombing the F out of everyone they could spend some of that military industrial money on social and humanitarian needs instead. I sure could use a few extra $'s in my Social Security check every month. I would actually spend it locally and benefit the economy instead of it bouncing rubble in some far off #-hole somewhere.

a reply to: CharlesT

You do know Americans get paid to build the arms and armament of the US military

a reply to: CharlesT

So who do you think benefits from building military equipment? It doesn't come already made from the military fairy. These companies spend billions of dollars in wages and building factories, and guess where that goes.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Rand Paul. geez.

a reply to: anzha

Ok, who, below the level of Congresscritter benefits.

a reply to: Benzer

Yes I do know that but just look at how much has been scattered around the world as shrapnel. Wasted wealth. Iraq and Afghanistan is littered with depleted uranium that is still causing birth defects and death. Previous administrations both Dem. and Rep. are soulless megalomaniacs that give a rat's ars about humanity and cater to the "INDUSTRY" solely for wealth and personal aggrandization. Too much is simply blown all to hell and is not accomplishing anything other than creating an endless supply of terrorists around the world. OH the stupid leaders We elect.

Truth is though, is that global peace is a pipe dream. It will never happen.

PS: Are all of the deaths this industry has inflicted worth the benefit of this industry? The same monies could be used for more beneficial purposes and still benefit the economy without killing hundreds of thousands of people as it's end result.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Impressive.
We will get passed the Snafu now.
Cheers!

a reply to: ketsuko

Damn your ugly.
Second line.

a reply to: tadaman

There are something on the order of 346 suppliers for the F-35 worldwide. The Virginia class submarines have over 4,000 suppliers for parts and pieces for each boat. The Gerald Ford class carrier has suppliers in 46 states.

We're also building infrastructure and new space systems that aren't private industry, for NASA. They're working on the SLS and Orion capsule that NASA will use for multiple missions from going to the moon, to landing on an asteroid.

As for other countries, they're building military forces as fast or faster than we are. China already built their first indigenous design aircraft carrier and are building a third now, with nuclear powered carriers in the pipeline. That includes escort and resupply ships as well as aircraft. They're also building stealth platforms.

Russia is building their first stealth platform, new AWACS, new supersonic bombers, submarines, missiles, and a lot of other equipment. We are far from the only ones that are spending a lot of money on their military.