[stanley]

I don't have raw numbers, but last I checked the cost estimates of maintaining these aircraft over the long term is still projected to be cheaper than the alternative.

Some of the aircraft flown by the USAF and the US Navy have higher annual operational costs than the sticker price of those same aircraft. The F-35 is an attempt to avoid repeating the same mistakes, but obviously, easier said than done.

[_s]

The operating costs for air or sea going vehicles is a lot of the time - at minimum - their purchase price, per year.

Buy a kayak for $100? You need around $100/yr in storage, cleaning and upkeep for it.

Buy a glider for $10k? You need around $10k/yr in maintenance, hangarage, taxes, insurance etc.

Buy a jet for $1M? You’ll spend that much on a hanger, crew, fuel, taxes, mechanics, parts, insurance etc etc.

Get an aircraft carrier for $1B? You’ll spend that much on crew, ports, maintenance, munition, training etc etc.

Sure you _can_ do it cheaper, but it’s a good rule of thumb from a budgetary point of view.

[kjs3]

last I checked the cost estimates of maintaining these aircraft over the long term is still projected to be cheaper than the alternative

I think that if nothing else is learned from this program, it's that 'cost estimates' regarding it fit someplace between 'meaningless' and 'fraudulent'.