I'm sorry, but this is another explicit expensive example of the U.S. Military bungling and stupidity - Sorry
I truly think that the U.S. Military has become incapable of being responsible for managing its own programs!
I'm an ardent anti- Military Industrial Complex fan. The days of the U.S. Military being accountable for its actions long gone. But I'm really beginning to question if the U.S. Military can be trusted to formulate its own Request for Proposals (RfP's) anymore, without non-military transparency. The supposed checks and balances of the House Armed Services Committee, are just as much a joke!
I'm angry, because the poor bastards that are expected to go into harms, are once again forced to compromise and be at risk. They deserve better!
How is it that the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) was ever allowed to become so complicated, so expensive and so behind schedule?
I've personally come to the conclusion that America's war-fighting aspirations and wet-dreams are becoming way too aspirational, which is clearly outstripping technological reality. I've come to the conclusion with so many failed .....and or cancelled U.S. Military weapons programs, that American lawmakers should be enforcing either a reality check test, pre comittment to a program, and or enforce an incremental-type program, which enforces the concept that technology has to be properly tested and proven before a given program can enter production. This ideological rubbish that America has to retain a qualitative edge over potential enemy's is a self-infatuated disease! Try as it did, with the immensely expensive F-22 and still to be fixed and proven F-35, the Soviet/Russian 'Flanker' series is still an actual tested and proven fighter-bomber design which has proliferate - and hence in reality a success in terms of actual combat capability and numbers! Another serious thing America really need to work out, is how to get its shit into one sock. Whilst its been obsessed with its fanciful 'war on terror', Real players like China, Russia know where they're going and know what they want in terms of conventional warfighting. At present the USAF is hellbent on killing the A-10, for a troublesome F-35 that is behind schedule, over cost, not in operational service, and if and when they enter service, they'll have imposed limitations.
In my opinion, the U.S. lawmakers should say to the USMC (in this case): 'You know what gents, you cant be trusted to devise and manage your own Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) program, you've told us you cant function or do without, and yet in truth you've literally destroyed the exacted vehicle that you wanted all by yourself, without a shot being fired!' So be bestow upon you these ready designed, ready operational ZBD2000's!'
Cynical I know. But reality is often cynical - especially when your that poor Marine storming a beachhead under fire
Regards
Pioneer