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$1.2T to OPERATE the F-35 program, yikes! I would love to see the TCO figures on an F-35 (or not). US Military budget concepts have always blown my mind.

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Not to say $1.2T is nothing, but that's over the lifespan of the program. It's like if you paid for your car plus all the fuel, oil changes, spare parts, tires, car wash, toll roads, all up front.

> $1.2 trillion to operate and maintain the fleet over more than 60 years.

Headlines kick harder when you leave out divisors.

Holy cow, 60 years is the design life of the F35?! We will somehow still be operating these things in 2150!

F16's 50th anniversary is next year. They're still being flown by many countries around the world, including the US, and will soon be fighting in Ukraine.

I believe the U-6A Beaver is the oldest design still operated by the US military.

Initial design was 1947, still being used as tow planes for gliders in the Navy.

That feels a bit like cheating. B-52 is nearly as old and is legitimately widely used.

The B-52 is getting new engines and going for a full century of active service.

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