Public Accounts committee  No. What I said was that for decision purposes we informed cabinet and the decision-makers that we thought the operating costs of the F-35 would be in a zone similar to those of the F-18 fleet. I believe that's what I said.

Public Accounts committee  As an estimate, it's the best estimate we have right now, yes.

Public Accounts committee  I could turn it over to Mr. Ross. I don't believe the joint strike fighter program would have a particular view about our operating costs. Dan, would you like to comment on that?

Public Accounts committee  No, we just had one set of books, Mr. Hawn.

Public Accounts committee  I think that's true. ADM Mat could speak to that in a little bit more detail. It's at the 20-year point, especially in sustainment, that the confidence bands really start to weaken around estimates. Dan, would you like to say anything on that issue?

Public Accounts committee  Simon, would you like to answer?

Public Accounts committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I will just say a couple of things. When we worked with the Auditor General, or with his office, on this report, I think we all recognized that stepping back over 15 years, this truly was a unique program that allowed us, with nine other partne

Public Accounts committee  There are a number of questions there, but I do appreciate the member's offer to help me on this. We'd have to go back to the action plan, but I believe that in 2010 we undertook to develop appropriate methodologies to life-cycle costs. We are in the process of developing those

Public Accounts committee  I don't know because we actually haven't done it. We have reported $9 billion for acquisition; that is the envelope. Then $5.7 billion is for sustainment. As you all know, $10 billion was the estimate for operating, which we will firm up over time.

Public Accounts committee  I have no problem with that.

Public Accounts committee  I don't mean to be difficult, but I'm not sure about the 2008 and 2009 reference. I spoke to the issue of the last four and then the consistency of the fifth major air asset acquisition since 2004. In each case we have spoken publicly to the issue of acquisition costs and sustain

Public Accounts committee  Yes. It's basically the same number we used for the F-35. We said we thought the operating costs would be similar, so some $10 billion over 20 years.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chairman, I would speak just very briefly to this and then turn it over to the assistant deputy minister of materiel, who has a very close working relationship with the joint project office. Just on one point you raised, on the issue of the variant, I think there has been a

Public Accounts committee  I think about four years and seven months, Mr. Chairman.

Public Accounts committee  It was 2007, I believe.