USN to reduce F/A-18E/F and F-35 buy

Its begun, no surprise. The Navy is considering cutting the Super Hornet fleet from 548 to 460 aircraft (128 aircraft gone!) and the F-35 buy by 400 aircraft (200 USN and 200 Marine).

Marines are furious: it will cut two wings from their force and drive up the cost of the rest, and may convince the Brits to switch to the conventional version, and international partners will be complaining about the price increase. The Navy insists that export sales will make up the difference. The Super Hornet cut will also drive up the price, Boeing says. The Navy is also retiring its S-3 Vikings early to save money.