tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post7032026396766257878..comments2024-03-28T13:53:04.287-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: Political correctness produces a military lemonPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-80495763432507499462015-09-14T19:38:02.789-05:002015-09-14T19:38:02.789-05:00Sounds like the manufacturer learned the same thin...Sounds like the manufacturer learned the same thing our defense industry did years ago: split your work between various constituencies so that their elected representatives will defend your contract to the death.DaddyBearhttp://daddybearsden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-21170156311712647142015-09-14T02:53:37.312-05:002015-09-14T02:53:37.312-05:00Guys this shows what happens when you let the EU r...Guys this shows what happens when you let the EU run the military. Storys going around this weekend in the UK that Germany is basicaly saying to the UK form an EU Army/Navy etc or else we will not let you have your reforms (such as actualy getting the Auditor General to Sign of the EU Accounts something not achieved in 15yrs.). The threat being that the USA will then talk to Berlin/Paris first on any military/Foreign Affairs cutting the UK out of th eloop.<br /><br />Well be careful what you wish for as exampled by the NH90 and German Armour running around with Broom Stick Handles instead of machine guns, you could find your new best Buds in Europe not up to the task.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-50991006846928521932015-09-13T10:26:24.923-05:002015-09-13T10:26:24.923-05:00The only surprising thing about this story is that...The only surprising thing about this story is that anyone is surprised at it. <br /><br />One size never fits all. <br /><br />Military design systems place great emphasis on "process" and audit trails, but all the design reviews in the world don't make a bit of difference if the requirements aren't carefully thought out and studied in great depth before the review process. <br /><br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-33330564509984008852015-09-13T10:03:02.077-05:002015-09-13T10:03:02.077-05:00Differ, the main problem is that contractors make ...Differ, the main problem is that contractors make unrealistic promises and bids, and then demand that the true price be paid.<br /><br />I can understand the last point from the contractors point of view, but sorry, we (the population) have to break them from the habit of underbidding.<br />If they made a bid they knew they couldn't deliver, they have to pay the dues.<br /><br />The other side of course is that any change to the demands rightly ups the price tag.<br />So the requirement is more or less that first the governments in question decide what they want, and ask for bids. As soon as the bidding process begins the specs are fixed. The contractor who wins the bid has to deliver before it gets paid.<br />The price tag can only rise with inflation. So if they can't deliver the project to the price they bid for they have to eat the development costs.<br />Only under extraordinary circumstances can that price increased.<br />But every single change the government has made in the specs counts as extraordinary circumstances.<br /><br />There should be no difference between the Government buying a new weapon or a private citizen buying a yacht.<br />If the yacht is not according to the specs or suddenly costs 3 times the private citizen will simply walk away.<br />If the ship-builder already has partly payments, the private customer goes to the court and gets his money back. If he changed the specs partway through the building, he will have to pay for it, but if not he has to expect the ship to his specifications to the price that was negotiated.<br /><br />But if the customer is a government that suddenly does not work anymore.MadMcAlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05189731235105279817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-22106051658292124342015-09-13T08:58:13.065-05:002015-09-13T08:58:13.065-05:00The Osprey did not give the Marines a "new&qu...The Osprey did not give the Marines a "new" capability.<br /><br />The Super Sea Stallion could carry as much and fly as far with refueling.<br /><br />What it boils down to now is that the USMC can much more rapidly deliver Infantryman beyond the support of their Super Cobras and must rely on fast movers for support. The abysmal "time on station" and maintenance limitations of any vertical lift jet ensure that every ground force commander's first priority of work is getting some sort of FARP or forward strip set up to get the Super Cobras into the fight.<br /><br />From a cost to weight carried perspective, the USMC would have been better off with Chinooks, but then they wouldn't have been "unique" and the USMC is quickly turning into a 21st century Air Force being supported by Vietnam era Grunts.SordidPandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657526230826604643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-70106163479582206202015-09-13T07:27:02.565-05:002015-09-13T07:27:02.565-05:00From the contractor's point of view working on...From the contractor's point of view working on a government contract severely limits their ability to make design compromises and/or stretch a schedule when the inevitable technical snags are encountered with a complex development program. Additionally, working on a govt. contract imposes a high oversight burden. You have to spend more money demonstrating that you are spending the funds effectively...diminishing returns.Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15581662615586346808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-66774372598241647502015-09-13T06:00:47.243-05:002015-09-13T06:00:47.243-05:00AFAIK the purchase of the NH-90 has not been cance...AFAIK the purchase of the NH-90 has not been canceled because there where some ironclad contracts that never took the reliability or functionality of the product into account.<br /><br />So the German Army at least was stuck. Unlike an private buyer the Army apparently can't simply say "No, the thing does not work as specified. Take it back!".<br /><br />There was much outrage as the German defense minister negotiated a changed contract. Cut the number of bought helicopters in half or so, and reduced the total by 5% or so.<br />I think it is the same as with other military projects. The Corporations use it as cash cow, and deliver an unusable product, that takes 3 times the amount to make usable.<br />Without any real oversight from the people paying for it and some contracts that fix the bid price and stick the corporation with the development costs if they can't make it (or lets be fair, if their bid was unrealistic as hell) this plague will continue.MadMcAlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05189731235105279817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-28338433898118115112015-09-13T04:08:36.621-05:002015-09-13T04:08:36.621-05:00There seems to be something rotten in the state of...There seems to be something rotten in the state of..(insert your state name of choice), and here in Australia, the same might apply.<br />I am no expert, but after having served 21 years in the RAAF, and two in the Army, you kinda notice things.<br />The purchase of the F35 by Australia really gives me pause for thought.<br />Now, the NH90.<br />What in hell is going on here?.<br />Decades ago in Australia, the people at the coalface tasked with making final decisions regarding military hardware purchases, more often than not, swung some pretty astute and smart deals, yes, even the F-111 proved itself very capable after some teething troubles.<br />Now though, the acquisition of the F35 and the NH90 are making sounds in some quarters that are less than comforting.<br /> Stu Garfathnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-52698554977039918012015-09-13T03:20:08.844-05:002015-09-13T03:20:08.844-05:00Not just EU that have purchased this helicopter. N...Not just EU that have purchased this helicopter. New Zealand Airforce/Navy has just retired it's Vietnam era chopper with the NH-90Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-49560752117511911622015-09-13T00:33:05.732-05:002015-09-13T00:33:05.732-05:00The core problem is that western nations have for...The core problem is that western nations have forgotten what it means to lose a war. They (we) will likely find out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-43229610562536318952015-09-12T23:52:52.810-05:002015-09-12T23:52:52.810-05:00it might also be an example of political corruptio...it might also be an example of political corruption, payoffs, bribes, favors called in.deb harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05110992898072146282noreply@blogger.com