Depuis le temps que ça planait, voilà qu'effectivement la menace risque de se concrétiser :
Avec la chasse aux coûts entamée aux Etats-Unis, le GAO (Government Accountability Office) fait feu de tout bois, et critique les performances des V-22 Osprey déployés en Irak depuis octobre 2007.
Voilà l'article en question…Le concept de vision à long terme, ils ne doivent pas trop connaître les bureaucrates du GAO …
The V-22’s original program cost estimates have changed significantly. From 1986 through 2007, the program’s Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation cost increased over 200 percent—from $4.2 to 12.7 billion—while the cost of procurement increased 24 percent from $34.4 to $42.6 billion. This increase coincided with significant reductions in the number of aircraft being procured—from nearly 1,000 to less than 500—resulting in a 148 percent increase in cost for each V-22. Operations and support costs are expected to rise. An indication is the current cost per flying hour, which is over $11,000— more than double the target estimate for the MV-22.
Comme si c'était le seul programme a avoir vu ses coûts exploser…
After more than 20 years in development, the MV-22 experience in Iraq demonstrated that the Osprey can complete missions assigned in low-threat environments. Its speed and range were enhancements. However, challenges may limit its ability to accomplish the full repertoire of missions of the legacy helicopters it is replacing.
Voilà un point de vue pour le moins lapidaire !!
Décidément…
Voici la page des news consacrées au V-22 sur Air-attack.comEDIT : J'ai mis à jour les premiers messages de ce topic.