Delivery of F-35, Marines deserve better than a wooden rifle

By Marshall Connolly, Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
11/28/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

USMC has been delievered a non-combat operational aircraft.

The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) has taken delivery of its first operational F-35B, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Unfortunately, the aircraft is beset by so many troubles the Marines cannot use it for combat.

The F-35 is impressive, but the Marines need it to work and taxpayers deserve accountability from the military-industrial complex.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In the early days of World War II, the German U-boat fleets suffered with defective torpedoes. U-boat aces fired salvo after salvo, only to see their well aimed torpedoes miss, or explode early, alerting allied destroyer escorts.

Arguing with his commander, U-boat captain Wolfgang Luth asked, "How can I be expected to fight a war with a wooden rifle?"

The USMC now has a wooden rifle, and a very expensive one at that. Each F-35B costs over $200 million. However, the aircraft are unsuitable for combat because of extensive technical difficulties and backlogged work.

Although delivered, the F-35 will not be combat ready until at least 2015.

For example, the aircraft is designed to pair with a special, super high-tech helmet. The helmet features a streaming video visor display that allows the pilot to see what is around the plane in all directions. Essentially, it allows him or her to see the enemy, even through the floor of the cockpit.

The problem is that the helmet display suffers from lag, which is a temporary delay in the display of the information. In a split-second decision situation, the lag could prove fatal. Lag is considered a bane in the online gaming world, causing players of video games great frustration. Imagine now, how serious lag becomes when life, death, and hundreds of millions of dollars are on the line.

Also significant, is that the software the system uses consists of some 24 million lines of code, most of which still requires checking.

The aircraft also requires extensive testing of its weapons capability. Only recently did the F-35 complete a test where it dropped a bomb for the first time. The tests matter because the plane carries its weapons inside its body, a requirement to maintain its stealthy nature. To deploy a weapon, the F-35 opens a bay door, releases its weapon, then closes the door, all within a few seconds. During the time the door is open, the aircraft is more vulnerable to radar detection. This system must work flawlessly to minimize operational risk and therefore requires much more testing.

In addition to the testing, the Navy has already spent millions on new facilities to house and maintain the aircraft. Among the procured items are two new aircraft carriers that are being designed to handle the advanced fighter.

There is little doubt the Marines need the new plane. Most of the USMC's aircraft in service are showing signs of age and the well-worn F-18s and AV8B Harriers are approaching the end of their operational lifespans. Unfortunately, there are several issues that remain to be grappled with.

First, the military-industrial complex continues to consume billions in taxpayer dollars, and is openly delivering a non-combat serviceable platform to the USMC. In a time of growing fiscal austerity, this is not an affordable luxury.

Second, the Marines both need, and mightily deserve operational equipment that will ensure they can succeed in their missions without unduly jeopardizing their lives. They should not be handed wooden rifles. That's not what Marines are for.

The hymn, "The Halls of Montezuma" tells us the streets of heaven are guarded by United States Marines. For the work they do, they deserve better.

� 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: F-35, Marines, testing, cost, delivery

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

KarlVDH
6 months ago
We're Catholics, right? And... we're "pro-life?" Just checking... this site is starting to be all about abortion and Obama and have less and less to do with life and love. This aircraft is a weapon. Are we seriously saying we're "pro life" but disappointed that a thing with absolutely no purpose other than killing human beings isn't functioning better?
Something's really, really askew here. We ARE Catholics, right? and Pro Life?
blacksheep09
6 months ago
The JSF program has been dragged down by the Air Farce and Congress; the Air Force still believes in a single seat fighter and is not easiy forward deployed, congress demands all members get a slice of the defense pie. Navy and Marine Forces project combat power, and require newer airframes for carrier operations, as a retired Army NCO my vote is with the Marines, give them the proper tools to defend the fleet and ground combat element.

blacksheep09
Marshall Connolly
6 months ago
Hugh, those without swords can still die upon them.
Hugh O'Neill
6 months ago
I have only just discovered this site via the FP Journal. My jaw is still agape and I am struggling to comprehend the bizarre hypocrisy of a Catholic anywhere supporting military options. Please excuse my naivety but the Christian message is simple enough for little children to understand. Love thy neighbour and turn the other cheek etc. Or has Jesus been reinterpreted? Wake up and smell the incense, brethren.
Better still, if you can't handle the Sermon on the Mount (Blessed are the Peace Makers), try JFK's speech to American University of 10th June 1963.
God Bless America (and everyone else please)...
alloycowboy
6 months ago
@Marshall Connolly You got face facts main stream is run by jouranlists with zero technical experience espically when it come to aerospace engineering. As I said before the the F-35 fighter will have between between 9 & 10 million lines of code. How ever the F-35 support logistics network software also probably has several million lines of code which is where the 24 million lines of code came from. See ths -> http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pentagon-defense-acquisitions-board-meeting-on-f-35-progress-376225/

As for the F-35 being behind schedule, you have to ask who's schedule? Technically all new airplanes designs run behind schedule because schedule always slides to the right and never to the left. Also do to the nature of aviation, aircraft have to be virtially perfect before being released for the general public to use. You can't release a flawed design for sale and fix all the flaws in the next version like you can with an Iphone.
Marshall Connolly
6 months ago
Alloycowboy: Reuters is also verifying what we were told. Twenty-four million lines of code.

"But the 'gorilla in the room,' General Bogdan said, is testing and securing the 24 million lines of software code for the plane and its support systems, a mountain of instructions that goes far beyond what has been tried in any plane."

Source - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/us/in-federal-budget-cutting-f-35-fighter-jet-is-at-risk.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

FrankU: The F-35 is several years behind schedule and is the costliest aircraft in history.

See what the NY Times had to say.

"...the [F-35] most expensive weapons system in military history. But while Pentagon officials now say that the program is making progress, it begins its 12th year in development years behind schedule, troubled with technological flaws and facing concerns about its relatively short flight range as possible threats grow from Asia."

Source - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/us/in-federal-budget-cutting-f-35-fighter-jet-is-at-risk.html?pagewanted=all

Despite the time and expense, the main point is, we as taxpayers deserve better from the military-industrial complex as in on-budget, on-time, and fully operational systems. With all the genius behind the project can we not better estimate time and expense? The complexity of the craft should have been a consideration in the estimates. If it was, then why have we allowed it to overrun so terribly? In no other field of business would such work be considered acceptable -- but alas the client is the government and the taxpayer is hostage -- unless like was mentioned, we prefer our infrastructure bombed...

Equally important, our Marines deserve this too. They should not be asked to wait several years longer while making do with aging equipment.
alloycowboy
6 months ago
This article is technically inacurate and should be removed. For one thing the F-35 is only planned to have between 8 million and 10 million lines of Code not 24 million. Also the F-35' s weapons bays door open and close in seconds which is hardly long enough time for a radar operator to get a firing solution. The problems with the Helmet mounted display have largely ironed out with the latest version of the helmet. Also yes the F-35B is expensive but not as expensive as having power plants, water treatment plants, and oil refineries bombed out from under you because you didn't have adequate air defence.
FrakU
6 months ago
I cant believe someone got paid for writing this article!

First of all the F-35 is in the testing phase. "TESTING"! This is done with all machines to make sure they work on a generaly set date. Duh! At the same point in testing the F-16 killed many pilots when they fell out of the sky. These things are complicated.

Second each new generation of fighter aircraft is increasing more advanced than the previous generation. You cant be surprised that it takes longer to make sure everything is ready for life and death combat.The F-35 is the single most advance flying maching humans have ever made! Lets not forget that fact. We're not talking about making cars people...!

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