F-35 Unit Tow Away Cost.

"Officials are now quoting cost in 2014 dollars to ensure that potential partners can properly weigh their options; a range of cost figures cited in various years have muddied the ability to make apples-to-apples comparisons, [program office director MG Charles] Davis says. In 2014 dollars, the CTOLs in LRIP-2 cost about $70 million without engine and Stovls cost about $80 million without engine."

The Norwegians think it's $52M.
The Israelis think it's +$100M.
The Dutch think it's €56M.
The Danes think it's $82M with spares and training.
Davis thinks it's $70M for an F-35A in 2014.
Davis thinks it's $70M for a F-35C without engine in 2014.
Davis thinks it's $80M for a F-35A in 2014.
The USAF budget says it's $91M flyaway in 2013.
The GAO thinks it's $104M.

avweek

From one of the comments...

It's a branch of Electronic Warfare Bill, called Active Confusion, the buyers will soon be so confused they will think they are getting a good deal no matter the price...with or without the engine. LM costing.........Unbelievable

LOL.

The aircraft can also reach a 55-deg. angle of attack in trimmed flight, while most fighters, excluding the F/A-18, are limited to 30 deg. The exact performance of the current F-35A configuration—also known as the 240-4—are classified. But a similar earlier standard (240-3) was credited with a maximum speed of Mach 1.67; acceleration from Mach 0.8 to Mach 1.2 at 30,000 ft. in 61 sec.; a top turning speed of 370 kt. at 9g and 15,000 ft.; and a sustained turn capability of 4.95g at Mach 0.8 and 15,000 ft. Moreover, an aircraft with those performance figures would carry two beyond-visual-range AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Amraams) in the internal weapons bay.


Yet, such performance numbers appear to leave the F-35 short of the kind of air-to-air capabilities provided by other combat aircraft, such as the Russian Su-30MKI or the European Typhoon. And even Lockheed Martin test pilots concede that the F-35—although offering very high initial acceleration due to its powerful 42,000-lb.-thrust F135 engine—could start losing advantage at higher speed and altitude. This might be partly due to the aircraft’s large frontal area, which is designed to allow internal weapons carriage—meaning in a traditional quick-reaction intercept role, the F-35 may not be able to match rivals.

Nevertheless, Brawler modeling showed the F-35 could achieve a loss-exchange ratio better than 400% against its nearest “competitor,” according to Lockheed Martin executives. They demur about naming the competitor, but their comparison charts indicate it is the Sukhoi Su-30 or Typhoon.

avweek.

How many degrees a second is 4.95g, mach .8 at 15,000 feet?

[edit on 6/3/2009 by C0bzz]