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Bill Sweetman
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Trillion Dollar Trainwreck: How The F-35 Hollowed Out The U.S. Air Force Kindle Edition

by Bill Sweetman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 22 ratings
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The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is being built in larger numbers than any other military aircraft today. It has won every export sales battle that it has engaged in. Hundreds are in service with the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and with U.S. allies worthwhile.
This book argues that it has been a failure.
The last of more than 1,700 F-35s that the Air Force needs to replace Cold War-era F-16s and F-15s will be 25 years late, according to the schedule set in 2001. The older jets are beginning to wear out, beyond economic repair, with no airplanes to replace them. Entire squadrons are being withdrawn from the forces needed to support operations worldwide and deter China and Russia.
And as this report appears, no F-35s are being delivered. Brand-new airplanes costing $100-$150 million each are rolling off the production line into a secret storage location because of faulty electronics. They won't be combat-ready until late 2025.
How did this happen?
In a penetrating, meticulously researched report for the professional reader, veteran investigative journalist and industry executive Bill Sweetman explains how the project was launched in the 1990s with complex, conflicting goals and an unsound strategy.
When things inevitably went wrong, as the airplane gained weight, proved almost impossible to build and susceptible to overheating, and as the 1990s-technology electronics proved unequal to what was demands of them, program leaders refused to slow down. They set unrealistic schedules and budgets for fixing problems. Every failed fix made matters worse.
Both the government program office - nominally working for us - and prime contractor Lockheed Martin pumped out rosy promises about getting the program back on track, publishing fanciful schedules, minimizing problems and attacking critics. Senior defense leaders, Congress and media, preoccupied with war, paid too little attention.
And now the Air Force is falling apart, its fleet "geriatric" in the words of a senior retired officer, or to quote one of D.C.'s leading defense budget wonks, "in a death spiral". In conclusion, Sweetman outlines some radical changes to eliminate perverse incentives from defense procurement.

"It is excellent" - former Deputy Defense Secretary
"Just started reading, and already hooked!" - defense analyst and advisor to British House of Commons
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  1. Print length
    105 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 21, 2024
  4. File size
    1.6 MB
  5. Page Flip
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  6. Word Wise
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D7SP26QR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Valkyrie Strategic Solutions LLC; 1st edition (June 21, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 21, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 105 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

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Bill Sweetman

Bill Sweetman

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
22 global ratings

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The huge misunderstanding
2 out of 5 stars
The huge misunderstanding
When I noticed of this book by the brilliant author that I still have a huge respect for him; Bill Sweetman, I thought I am going to read a massive book, or even if it's small one (limited pages) I would discover a lot of information and notices. Unfortunately, I was shocked of this report not even should be called a book. This information should be as an article in a magazine not to be a book.Sorry Bill, but I didn't enjoy your work this time. And , I disagree with some of your opinions about this fighter. (The F-35).
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Richard Pawloski
    5.0 out of 5 stars Trillion Dollar Trainwreck
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    One always honors the extensive work, research and analysis of Bill Sweetman - this is a shinning example of a massive complex project dragged out over decades and despite "trillions" of investment by over 20 nations it still comes up "SHORT" of expectations that unfortunately today are really needed in a more than expected way not far less and unable to define when contract specs will be met. Amazing good piece of work by Bill - God Speed, a definite resident item for my work desk all the time.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Ali Al Hashem
    2.0 out of 5 stars The huge misunderstanding
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    When I noticed of this book by the brilliant author that I still have a huge respect for him; Bill Sweetman, I thought I am going to read a massive book, or even if it's small one (limited pages) I would discover a lot of information and notices. Unfortunately, I was shocked of this report not even should be called a book. This information should be as an article in a magazine not to be a book.

    Sorry Bill, but I didn't enjoy your work this time. And , I disagree with some of your opinions about this fighter. (The F-35).
    Customer image
    Ali Al Hashem
    2.0 out of 5 stars
    The huge misunderstanding

    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024
    When I noticed of this book by the brilliant author that I still have a huge respect for him; Bill Sweetman, I thought I am going to read a massive book, or even if it's small one (limited pages) I would discover a lot of information and notices. Unfortunately, I was shocked of this report not even should be called a book. This information should be as an article in a magazine not to be a book.

    Sorry Bill, but I didn't enjoy your work this time. And , I disagree with some of your opinions about this fighter. (The F-35).
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • E
    2.0 out of 5 stars Not a book, barely a pamphlet
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I am very disappointed. There are publicly available GAO reports on F-35 that are longer and better written, but adding insult to feeling gypped is the generally poor quality of the publishing, see photo. Were this at least a captivating story, I might not feel so disappointed.
    Customer image
    E
    2.0 out of 5 stars
    Not a book, barely a pamphlet

    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
    I am very disappointed. There are publicly available GAO reports on F-35 that are longer and better written, but adding insult to feeling gypped is the generally poor quality of the publishing, see photo. Were this at least a captivating story, I might not feel so disappointed.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Jacqueline M Givens
    2.0 out of 5 stars Expensive
    Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Seems like the author is very informed but I thought it was a book. It is more like a booklet (Author’s words) or an extended article.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • vernon simpson
    2.0 out of 5 stars Way too expensive for 80 pages! Vern
    Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This booklet is way too expensive for what you receive.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • MERCEDES
    1.0 out of 5 stars No vale 33€
    Reviewed in Spain on May 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Esta bien, interesante como recopilatorio de los 20años del programa… pero no vale 33€…
    Report
  • Ali Walker
    1.0 out of 5 stars VALUE FOR MONEY?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I will admit to not reading the information of number of pages or measurements, however, having spent the best part of £28, I felt ripped off when what I would describe as a "pamphlet" arrived. I was expecting a book!
    Report
  • Danny Nowlan
    5.0 out of 5 stars The most important book on defence acquisition you will ever read
    Reviewed in Australia on June 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Bill Sweetman was in such a unique position to write this book having followed this from day 0 and this book didn't disappoint. If you want to understand how the F-35 despite the cost overuns, how it never quite hits it goals, keeps on going this book really fills in the gaps. This is absolutely essential reading.
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