Old systems can’t always operate in the threat areas of the future. They break more often which causes maintenance nightmares for our Airmen. And they cost more to repair.
On the latter point, we put together a slide to show you what this means. See:
http://www.afa.org/custom404/?url=%2fEdOp%2f2011%2fAging_Fleet.pdf
Note that these are the average costs per year from 05-09 – and multiply across the years. For an older system, like a bomber, this means that the cost per flying hour in 2009 is almost 50% greater than in 05. Not surprisingly, the older the system, the greater the cost per flying hour.
General Dunn, President Air Force Association
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