{"id":189849,"date":"2010-02-06T20:39:00","date_gmt":"2010-02-07T01:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panix.com\/~msaroff\/40years\/2010\/02\/06\/death-spiral-jsf-edition-chapter-2-of-many\/"},"modified":"2010-02-06T20:39:00","modified_gmt":"2010-02-07T01:39:00","slug":"death-spiral-jsf-edition-chapter-2-of-many","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panix.com\/~msaroff\/40years\/2010\/02\/06\/death-spiral-jsf-edition-chapter-2-of-many\/","title":{"rendered":"Death Spiral, JSF Edition, Chapter 2 of Many"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, this week, SecDef Robert Gates has just fired the program manager for the JSF program<\/a>, Major General David Heinz, and is withholding millions of dollars in performance fees to the prime contractor, Lockheed-Martin, because of schedule and budget slips, citing a “troubling performance record.” (see also here<\/a>, here<\/a>, and here<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Lockheed-Martin’s response has <\/span>been nothing short of delusional<\/a>, at least as described by Steve O’Bryan, L-M VP for “business development and customer engagement” for the JSF, “:<\/p>\n

Gates’ actions, in O’Bryan’s view, “reflected the commitment of the U.S. government to the F-35… the program is fully funded, with more development funding and more robust leadership.” The decision shows that the aircraft is “relevant today, and that the customer wants the jet right now.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’m beginning to think that part of the reason that this program is over budget and behind schedule is that Lockheed Martin has, and so the tax payer is paying for, a, “vice president for business development and customer engagement on the JSF program”.<\/p>\n

It seems to me that this is a rather high falutin, and likely highly paid, position for what amounts to a PR flack with heavy duty knee pads.<\/p>\n

Misapplication of resources may be a part of the problem, and Mr. O’Bryan’s continued employment does not seem to me to be an example of “spending smart.”<\/p>\n

Of course, the USAF chief of staff is similarly sanguine, suggesting that the delays in the pro will only raise unit cost in the immediate term<\/a>, because, like no other program before it, the delays will increast the cost only, “for a period,” and he does not see a Nunn-McCurdy breach in the costs.<\/p>\n

It makes me want to quote that Samuel L. Jackson speech from Pulp Fiction<\/span> again<\/a>, because it’s clear that they want to f%$# the taxpayer like a bitch.<\/p>\n

There are people who recognize the truth, like the Director Of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E), who says that even with a flawless program, there will be a slippage of at least 18 months on the program<\/a>, but that a flawless program is extremely<\/span> unlikely, since things like the idea that modeling and simulation can reduce testing are unlikely to succeed.<\/p>\n

Of note in the DOT&E report:<\/p>\n