How is this program different from previous military aircraft programs?
An emphasis on affordability is the primary difference. Affordability accounts for the main reason we started the program. With the unit cost of airplanes increasing, we need to do business differently. We are keeping costs low by getting warfighters and technologists together in the beginning of the program. You are helping us coordinate the cost and operational performance trades where we’re asking questions like, How much does that last twenty percent of capability cost? Do I need it? Where are the knees in the curves for performance and capability? What advances will allow us to affordably achieve our goals? We have never taken this approach with a fighter before. We are doing all of our development up front and taking risk to the lowest level before we go to the next phase of the program, engineering and manufacturing development, or E&MD. How are the interservice relationships working out? Outstanding. My staff includes members of the Marines, Navy, Air Force, and UK personnel-ci
