Quote:
Originally Posted by flex297
Provide data to support this claim first!
The GAO report says:
- more than $300 billion to acquire 2,456 aircraft - equals more than $122mil a piece
- $760 billion in life cycle operating and support costs
In my world, spare parts, support equipment and training equipment belong to the *life cycle operating and support costs* category. They always have and they always will. You got it written there, black on white!
So, where is the *it will cost $75mil in 2014* claim now?
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The US government (this includes GAO) has established exacting definitions for the cost elements rolled up in several indenture levels:
- Flyaway cost = airframe + engine + avionics
- Weapons system cost = flyaway cost + support equipment + technical publications + training data & training equipment + advanced procurement
- Procurement cost = weapons system cost + initial spares
- Program cost = procurement cost + research & development + test & evaluation + military construction
- Life cycle cost = program cost + fuel + POL + operations & maintenance personnel costs
People make apples to oranges mistakes when comparing costs at different indenture levels. A favorite mistake is comparing the F-22's program cost ($250+ Million) against the flyaway cost of a eurocanard ($90 million).