Document Information
Military Airframe Costs
The Effects of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes
In recent years, a number of attempts have been made to estimate the cost of future weapon systems toward the goal of optimizing acquisition policy. This report focuses specifically on the effects of material mix, manufacturing techniques, and geometric part complexity on the cost of military airframes. It begins by offering background information on those materials that are most critical to airframe manufacture and on the relative advantages of both traditional and evolving part fabrication techniques. It then proceeds to a quantitative analysis of the cost implications of various materials and manufacturing techniques on airframe production, drawing both from an industry survey and from analysis of industry data. The data thus derived are then integrated with those of a comprehensive historical database. The report concludes that composites, while offering a number of advantages over metals in airframe manufacture, are generally associated with higher costs across a range of categories. At the same time, it concludes that while new manufacturing technologies hold the potential to diminish airframe manufacturing costs, the increased airframe complexity of future fighter aircraft may well offset this advantage. The report recommends that cost analysts remain abreast of changes in industry practice so that they may more accurately gauge the potential effects of such changes on future airframe costs.
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Paperback Cover Price: $25.00
Discounted Web Price: $22.50
Pages: 168
ISBN/EAN: 0-8330-3036-1
Contents
Preface PDF
Figures PDF
Tables PDF
Summary PDF
Acknowledgments PDF
Acronyms PDF
Chapter One:
Introduction PDF
Chapter Two:
Material Characteristics PDF
Chapter Three:
Manufacturing Techniques PDF
Chapter Four:
Airframe Cost Information PDF
Chapter Five:
Airframe Cost-Estimating Methodology PDF
Chapter Six:
Applying the Results PDF
Appendix A:
Stress-Strain Diagram PDF
Appendix B:
Aircraft Weight Definitions PDF
Appendix C:
Aircraft Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Levels (From Military Specification 881) PDF
Appendix D:
Airframe Development Cost-Estimating Relationships PDF
Appendix E:
Subjects of the Three RAND Studies on Industry Initiatives Designed to Reduce the Cost of Producing Military Aircraft PDF
Bibliography PDF
Recommended Reading PDF
The research described in this report was performed under the auspices of RAND's Project AIR FORCE.
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