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Theres no Doubt about it. The current Defense Contractor Industry is going to get a Major Cut. For the F22 program or JSF to survive it will need to be Exported or The Services are going to have to Push the retirement of current airframes.
Their are only 2 countries the 22 could be exported to and both could not afford the airframe, or in signifigant quantities to save the workforce building them. Japan has pretty much given up on purchasing the F-22, and is currently building its own \"Stealth ADF\" The UK couldnt possibly afford it. For Lockmart their hope is in Prime Contracts for the legacy aircraft in service and the export of the JSF.
The question I have for the Mr Gates is: Where do you expect those Engineers, Machinests, AP&P mechanics to be working when those factories are closed. They are going to move on to other employers and that Efficient manufacturing chain is going to take a major hit if the aircraft or a future system ever becomes funded because the resources wont be available and recovery of lost skillsets will be difficult at best from an HR point of view.
Most of us that work in the Industry, are making our \"stable\" income on Foriegn Prime contracts. I saw this event coming 2 years ago and planned accordingly. I had allready been through a similar event working on contracts that had their funding killed. .
Work force wise as a Testpilot, Flight Test Engineer. and the other professionals I work along side are hired to fulfill contracts. When that contract is fullfilled or ended. your left grabbing at straws for the next job.
The defense industry has been hurting since 1993.
It comes at a cost when you cant justify it to a niave administration the mindset of Prevention of war and the tools to maintain supremacy.
In the meantime there is plenty of current operational products that need a major financial boost to sustain and the F22's money could be beter spent on that for the next 10 Years.
When it takes you 20 years to take an idea from paper to service. It isnt economical anymore to develop and produce aircraft in that fashion.
F22 was a great fighter, had it been put in service 15 years ago. In the next 10 years it will be even with foriegn competitive products. Unfortunately, it would be about 10 years before that program could recover and go back in service. If Mr gates has his way and any follow on administration.
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\"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. \"
George S. Patton
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