On Sep 19, 11:10 am, "Spartan613" pissoff.com> wrote:

Brash, as usual, demonstrates to the world that he doesn't have a
clue,
just likes being fucked by anyone with a Yank accent.

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"Australian industry involvement
Latest reports indicate that some 15 Australian firms have gained over
$100 million worth of contracts for work on the JSF project, ranging
from engineering drawing to the manufacture of engine stands and
composite panels.(6) However, such industry participation during the
system development and demonstration phase is in the lower end of
value-adding for the project as a whole and does not guarantee similar
success in winning contracts for the much larger production and
support phases of the project, even if Australia does proceed to
acquire the aircraft."
----------------------------

Gee. A whole $100 million. Almost the price of one aircraft (if the
stupid thing ever
gets built). Now, to participate in this mind blowing investment the
AUSTRALIAN
TAXPAYER had to ante up $195 million to fund the R&D. So we made a
$100
million loss from the start. And we have committed to paying another
$200
million to get the production lines started. Half a billion between
friends,
what the hell. We're going to get the F-35s cheap right? Wrong.
Australia
(it seems) is planning to buy on paper, the very first, untested,
block 0
as they come off the line. And what is the support contract going to
cost for one of these toys? And when does this whole $100,000 turn
up?
Is this a big contract for some deserving aussie company? No,
this is 'projected' for the period 2002-2012. Ten years, ten million
a year it seems. Oh wait! There's another proviso. This business is
not ectually business as we know it. This mythical $100 million over
10
years can be considered a business LOAN only to be paid by LM
IF AND WHEN the required amount of airframes, support contracts
and anything else LM deems we should purchase is finalised.

And Brash thinks this is a good deal.........
----------------------------------

"Current project issues
Access to the source code
While earlier problems such as aircraft weight and range have
apparently been solved, questions about the release of the computer
source code that makes the aircraft so unique have emerged as a
potential showstopper for international clients. The source code in
question refers to the millions of lines of computer code that allow
this 21st-century aircraft to fly and to fight. Without complete
access to this source code, Australia will be unable to modify or even
maintain the aircraft independently—as it has done so successfully for
many years with the F-111.

"The question about the release of the source code to Australia has
not been confirmed publicly. It is understood that maintenance of the
JSF will be undertaken in a regional logistics and maintenance centre
run by Lockheed Martin. Without access to the source code, Australia
may in coming decades be put in the invidious position of having no
option but to pay whatever Lockheed Martin asks during future contract
negotiations for the ongoing maintenance of Australia’s strike
fighters.""
-----------------------------------

Well, another great deal for the ADF. Well fucking done. Not only
have we bought
vapourware, we paid to have the smoke blown, continue to keep paying
whilst the
SINGLE example of the CTOL dinky toy STILL remains grounded, and later
on,
if the stupid fucking thing ever actually manages to fly, we get to
sign an open-ended
agreement with the USSA to keep them in the air.

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So Brash, what EXACTLY is great about this new deal with the USSA?

Mark Addinall.