Flying hours for the conventional-take-off-and-landing F-35A model will likely cost 10 percent more than that of an F-16, according to a...
Flying hours for the conventional-take-off-and-landing F-35A model will likely cost 10 percent more than that of an F-16, according to a US government estimate.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, the head of the F-35 joint program office, revealed the figures during testimony in front of the Royal Dutch Parliament defense sub committee on April 18.
In his statement, Bogdan indicated that the cost per flying hour of an F-35A variant employed by the U.S. Air Force and Royal Netherlands Air Force is estimated to be $24,000 per hour; roughly 10 percent higher than F-16 cost per flying hour.
Pentagon had estimated earlier, about $30,000 per hour to operate the F-35, in large part due to the cost of fuel.
The Netherlands earlier planned to buy 85 of these fighters, which is under review now, officials said last month they may trim the order by 33.
