Lockheeds F-35 facing new scrutiny from Trump administration

[TexasTowelie]

Donald Trump’s doubts about the $379 billion F-35 fighter jet program could cast a pall over the defense industry’s early euphoria that a major boost in spending is coming after the next administration takes office.

The stealthy fighter built by Lockheed Martin was the only major weapons program Trump questioned during the campaign, even as he espoused the need for a larger Army and more warships. In an October 2015 interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump criticized the jet’s costs and said he heard “that it’s not very good. I’m hearing that our existing planes are better.”

He’ll have to decide quickly whether that skepticism still stands.

Soon after taking office in January, Trump will be faced with some key decisions about the F-35 and other weapons systems. Under current plans, the U.S. is scheduled to boost purchases of the jet in the fiscal 2018 budget year to 70 from 63 this year, and then to 80 in fiscal 2019.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/article114943563.html

[gordianot]

1. We are selling the flying pig to our NATO allies.

I am a little surprised Trump is opposed to F-35 in that it would help his Russian allies.

[VMA131Marine]

2. Scrapping the F-35 program at this point would be a huge mistake

The jets are now becoming operational and it would take at least another decade to develop something new. The program is not nearly in as bad a shape as some would lead people to believe.