Cost of F-35 stealth fighters could soon hit (Canadian) defence spending cap, report shows

[unhappycamper]

http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2013/08/22/dnd-shrinks-contigency-fund-for-any-future-f-35-purchase/



The full cost of the F-35s has been pegged at $45 billion, but only $9 billion of that is for actually buying the planes. The remaining $36 billion is for development, maintenance, operating costs and disposal when the aircraft reach the end of their usefulness, expected around 2052.

Cost of F-35 stealth fighters could soon hit defence spending cap, report shows
By Lee Berthiaume, Postmedia News August 22, 2013

OTTAWA — The military’s dream of buying a fleet of F-35s appears to be in growing danger of bumping against a hard spending cap imposed by the Conservative government.

A new Defence Department report shows the anticipated cost per plane has increased since December, which combined with others factors has left very little room for error if Canada is to buy 65 of the stealth fighters for $9 billion.

That number is politically important because the government has stated it will not pay more than $9 billion to buy a replacement for Canada’s aging fleet of CF-18s.

(The full cost of the F-35s has been pegged at $45 billion, but only $9 billion of that is for actually buying the planes. The remaining $36 billion is for development, maintenance, operating costs and disposal when the aircraft reach the end of their usefulness, expected around 2052.)



unhappycamper comment: Nine billion dollars will only buy 36 F-35s.