Featured Swiss Government Purchase of F-35A Fighter Jet Reveals Critical Flaws in U.S. Air Force Decision to Buy F-15EX

[LeGenD]

SUMMARY

An independent study by the Swiss Federal Council determined that the F-35A stealth fighter was significantly more effective and less costly to acquire, operate, and sustain than the F/A-18E/F—which itself is far cheaper to acquire and operate than the F-15EX. The stark contrast between the Swiss findings on the F-35A and the expenses attributed to the F-35A by the U.S. Defense Department are troubling. Congress should commission an independent body to determine the real acquisition, operations, and sustainment costs for both the F-35A and the F-15EX. Congress should use the study’s findings to ensure that the U.S. Air Force is acquiring the most combat-ready and cost-effective fighters available.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. The Swiss government evaluated four fighters and rated the F-35A well above all others in performance, interoperability, and, surprisingly, cost.

2. The Swiss evaluation found the F-35A to cost $2.16 billion less to acquire, operate, and sustain than even the F/A-18, which costs far less than the F-15EX.

3. The U.S. Congress should direct an independent study to determine objective costs for acquisition, operations, and sustainment for the F-35A and F-15EX.

Swiss Government Purchase of F-35A Fighter Jet Reveals Critical Flaws in U.S. Air Force Decision to Buy F-15EX

On June 30, 2021, the Swiss Federal Council announced that it will recommend the procurement of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft for Switzerland’s next fighter. The decision follows a multi-year competition on the performance, acquisition, and sustainment costs for four different fighters.

www.heritage.org

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

SUMMARY

An independent study by the Swiss Federal Council determined that the F-35A stealth fighter was significantly more effective and less costly to acquire, operate, and sustain than the F/A-18E/F—which itself is far cheaper to acquire and operate than the F-15EX. The stark contrast between the Swiss findings on the F-35A and the expenses attributed to the F-35A by the U.S. Defense Department are troubling. Congress should commission an independent body to determine the real acquisition, operations, and sustainment costs for both the F-35A and the F-15EX. Congress should use the study’s findings to ensure that the U.S. Air Force is acquiring the most combat-ready and cost-effective fighters available.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. The Swiss government evaluated four fighters and rated the F-35A well above all others in performance, interoperability, and, surprisingly, cost.

2. The Swiss evaluation found the F-35A to cost $2.16 billion less to acquire, operate, and sustain than even the F/A-18, which costs far less than the F-15EX.

3. The U.S. Congress should direct an independent study to determine objective costs for acquisition, operations, and sustainment for the F-35A and F-15EX.

Swiss Government Purchase of F-35A Fighter Jet Reveals Critical Flaws in U.S. Air Force Decision to Buy F-15EX

On June 30, 2021, the Swiss Federal Council announced that it will recommend the procurement of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft for Switzerland’s next fighter. The decision follows a multi-year competition on the performance, acquisition, and sustainment costs for four different fighters.

www.heritage.org

Calculations before the sale and after the sale can differ wildly.
The US knows more about the cost of the F-35 than anyone else and are complaining a lot about cost of operation.
If the Swiss are smart, they are asking for the price of Block 4 aircraft. Otherwise that is going to be a $5-10M upgrade per aircraft.

 

[sanel1412]

Swiss council got marketing P.R for their calculation while US defense department actually test aircrafts,know every flaw...ofcourse results will be such. Swiss is not even inside F/35 partnership....they can use numbers they got from seller to calculate costs...US defense department know everything about aircraft,they test it and conclude it is junk not even capable to operate most of the time.

 

[KaiserX]

Read the source... the heritage foundation is a republican think tank that is pro-war and usually takes on very hawkish positions.

 

[Michel Niesten]

The Swiss consider the F-35 the cheapest option, partially because more flying hours can be done in simulators, compared to the other fighters. More simulator hours, means less flying hours per airframe. And that is also important for the Swiss, as it lowers noise pollution in the summer tourism season. And that’s also an important consideration for the Swiss. Every summer a few airbases (Meiringen, Payerne) are closed during summer holiday season, because of tourism complaints.