As a European (:) ) and after EFA and Rafale news it seems to me that is good to speak about the news of the next generation fighter that will enter in service in many european air forces and navies.
Obviously I’m talking about the new LM F-35 fighter.
From http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=18512&rsbci=0&fti=111&ti=0&sc=400
The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation stealth fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR-7s and Sea Harriers.
The U. S. Air Force will operate 1,763 F-35As while the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy together are planning to operate 680 F-35Bs and F-35Cs, and the United Kingdom plans to place 138 F-35Bs into service with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The remaining F-35 participant countries plan to acquire more than 600 aircraft.
At whom that believe JSF is too much expensive: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/09/216000/lockheed-martin-overcharged-us-government-by-265m-on-f-35-joint-strike-fighter-development-programme.html
Lockheed Martin overcharged the US government by $265 million on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development programme, the company announced on 9 August.
The company is now in the process of reimbursing the funds to the government, although it was not immediately clear if the funds will be returned to the JSF programme office for reinvestment or go elsewhere.
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August 12, 2007 at 3:05 pm