Well, yeah man hahaha you know me well, now. I certainly don't mind the choice and hope the whole current fleet of 19 Cs & Ds get all upgraded to the D model. They've needed more of these terrific transport helos for all the growing army and expansion that is happening. My problem is of course the cost. Each one of these Ds is about $32 million a piece which times by 23 comes up under $750 million. I understand of course that this package comes with training, associated equipment and technical support which still doesn't add up to another $1.6+ billion!? It's absolutely crazy. Oh, let's not forget the 5000 TOW-2A for another $700 million.
They've also signed the deal for the new 12 C-130Js for another $2.2 billion. And didn't they also request the refurbishing of the 43 EAF Apaches for another $2.3 billion (without the Long Bow)? It's crazy. So you have all this:
1) $2.3 billion for the Apaches refurbishing (2020)
2) $2.2 billion for the 12 C-130Js (Jan. 2022)
3) $2.6 billion for 23 CH-47D Chinooks (2022)
5) $700 million for 5000 TOW-2A (2022)
Total is almost $8 billion.
That's a lot to take out of an annual allowance of $1.3 billion and like you said, what does that do to the possible F-15 deal? How would they structure them under the Peace Vector Military Aid when they've already committed so much out of it that will take a decade or more to pay off.
It would seem like maybe the EAF told the US they weren't interested in the F-15 at all and will pursue the Su-35 but in return, they'll purchase all this other stuff, from the C-130s, to these Chinooks and TOWs etc.? We shall see, but the Chinooks and the C-130s are great choices, only super expensive.
