L'Italia taglia la ricerca e la cultura ma non il caccia F-35

[rossana <rossana at comodinoposta.org>]

La manovra del ministro Tremonti priva del contributo statale un 
lunghissimo elenco di enti culturali e di ricerca, ma non taglia il 
velivolo d'attacco statunitense F-35 (per un totale di 131).

Il governo italiano vota con gli Stati Uniti contro una inchiesta 
internazionale sull'assalto israeliano alla "Freedom Flotilla" e non 
dice una parola sulla urgente necessità di liberare Gaza dall'assedio 
israeliano.

Tagliamo l'F-35 e tagliamo i legami con la corruzione, burocrazia e 
militarismo.
http://ericpalmer.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/f35marketpotentialmay2007.jpg

Il costo previsto del caccia F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, il più costoso 
programma di armamento degli Stati Uniti programma di armamento, è ora 
382 miliardi dollari, il 65 per . cento superiore ai 232 miliardi 
dollari stimati quando il programma è iniziato nel 2002. L'ha detto un 
funzionario del governo. La produzione di un singolo F-35 è oggi stimato 
in 92,4 milioni dollari .

Lockheed F-35’s Projected Cost Now $382 Billion, Up 65%

June 1 (Bloomberg) -- The projected cost of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 
Joint Strike Fighter, the most expensive U.S. weapons program, is now 
$382 billion, 65 percent higher than the $232 billion estimated when the 
program started in 2002, according to a government official.

This projection from independent Pentagon analysts is being sent to 
Congress today.

The Pentagon’s cost-analysis office reports that the price per plane -- 
including research, development and construction costs -- is now $112.4 
million, the official said. That’s about 81 percent over the original 
estimate of $62 million.

The production cost alone of each plane is estimated at $92.4 million, 
almost 85 percent higher than the $50 million projected when the program 
began in 2002, the Pentagon will tell Congress.

The F-35 is the U.S. military’s next-generation fighter. Designed for 
missions that include bombing and air-to-air combat, it will be used by 
the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. It will replace such aircraft as 
the F-16, A-10 and Harrier that are flown by the Marines and the U.K.

The program is already four years behind schedule on key milestones, 
including completing the development phase and combat testing, beginning 
full-scale production and then declaring the first Air Force and Navy 
units ready for combat.

The delays and cost growth are the consequence of a major wing redesign, 
inefficient production, testing problems and slow deliveries from 
suppliers, according to findings by Lockheed, congressional auditors and 
Pentagon officials.

Based on History

The cost group’s estimate is more pessimistic than that of the program 
office or Lockheed Martin because it’s based heavily on historical data 
from other aircraft programs such as the Boeing F-18 and Lockheed Martin 
F-22.

The estimate of $382 billion released today comes only two months after 
the Pentagon’s program office pegged the cost at $328 billion.

This new projection was compiled to comply with a 1982 law that demands 
an assessment of any weapons program that exceeds its original projected 
cost by 50 percent.

The Pentagon must also certify to Congress the program is vital to 
national security. That certification accompanies the new cost analysis, 
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters earlier today.

He said that the F-35 certification was expected because the Pentagon 
signaled its support when it reorganized the program in February. The 
Pentagon extended the current development phase, delayed the purchase of 
122 aircraft until after 2015 and added money for additional testing.