Looks like the F-35 and Rafale are having supply chain issues

submitted by RandomCollection from militarywatchmagazine.com

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[–]rundown9 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I have a feeling this project will be cut short and dumped completely once military planners realize they can build dozens of drones for the price of one boondoggle fighter aircraft and cost realities hit home.

The cost of the tech is just the start, once you include the cost of pilot training, retention, and combat survival.

[–]penelopepnortneyBecome ungovernable 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Severe shortages in the talent pool, and an insufficient numbers of skilled workers in the United States capable of producing fifth generation fighters and complex high tech products, has been a leading bottleneck - one which has had implications across manufacturing fuelling further outsourcing of advanced manufacturing to East Asia in particular.

Supply chain issues affecting both the F-35 and the Rafale come amid broader industrial issues affecting Western high tech manufacturing in multiple sectors which have only worsened since the COVID-19 crisis, and have gained increasingly significant implications at a time of high geopolitical tensions when Western adversaries particularly China, Russia and North Korea are rapidly improving the scale and sophistication of their own advanced weapons manufacturing including in the former two for fighter planes.

[–]RandomCollection[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

https://archive.ph/LvaSp

It'd be interesting to see how much the latest Western fighters are reliant on world supply chains that may not be present in a war with China and Russia.

[–]penelopepnortneyBecome ungovernable 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Just listened to an interview where the interviewer said he has a 2008 Mercedes in great condition but it won't run because it needs some simple part replaced and it's not available anywhere, apparently not even from Germany.

[–]rundown9 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Numerous Merc owner clubs online should be able to help.

But otherwise yes there are no laws that automakers have to make repair parts available beyond warranty periods, as the used EV market is starting to reveal.

[–]NetweaselContinuing the struggle 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

the interviewer said he has a 2008 Mercedes in great condition but it won't run because it needs some simple part replaced and it's not available anywhere

I know where the part is available from.... another 2008 Mercedes that was just wrecked, but wrecked in a section of the car where that part isn't.
But the bidding for the part should be incredible.

[–]RandomCollection[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

This lack of repairability is going to be a problem for future consumer products.

Not to mention for military gear now that the US is crazy and dumb enough to provoke a 2 front war with China and Russia.

[–]NetweaselContinuing the struggle 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

it needs some simple part replaced and it's not available anywhere

I thought that was what 3D Printing was for.

  • Scan the pieces of the broken part
  • "Fix" the part in CAD/CAM to make a file of the original part (or get the original file for the part)
  • Make a solid part out of plastic
  • Take the plastic part (and the CAD/CAM file) to a metal fabricator and say "I need 20 of these, in metal."
  • Sell 15 of them on eBay to make your money back. Keep the other four in the car, just in case.