Air Force committed to F-35: Geren

Posted on: Sep. 10th, 2005 || Source: dfw.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

DALLAS - Acting Air Force Secretary Pete Geren reaffirmed the service’s commitment to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 joint strike fighter Friday, but said the number of planes that will be built remains up in the air.

At a speaking engagement in Dallas, Geren dismissed recent reports that the Air Force’s version of the F-35 might be offered up as a budget sacrifice to save billions for other Pentagon programs.

The Air Force needs the F-35 and more expensive F/A-22 Raptor, Geren said in response to a question at the Dallas Friday Group luncheon. "The future of our Air Force is to do both of those."

Later, Geren stoutly denied reports that senior Air Force generals would forego the F-35 for more F/A-22s and other weapons.

"I can assure you the Air Force wants the F-35," Geren said, to replace its aging F-16s.

Read the full article

• Eurofighter Tranche 2 Aircraft deliveries to Partner Nations Begins
• Hawgsmoke 2008 exercise to continue despite A-10 inspections
• Lockheed Receives Contract For Four C-130J Aircraft For Qatar
• Boeing Announces New Rotorcraft Program: AH-6
• Russia's arms sales to Venezuela for defense only - Lavrov
• Pentagon denies Iran forced down U.S. plane
• Boeing Awarded Initial Phase of Estimated $3 Billion Contract for C-17 Support
• B-52 squadrons set to swap out at Andersen
• Inspections ordered for A-10 Thunderbolt IIs
• DARPA Kills Oblique Flying Wing
• Stennis Puts New Growlers to the Test
• Gripen NG shortlisted in Brazil
• Russia's UAC optimistic over Indian fighter tender
• Russia's MiG fighter contract with Algeria 'still in effect'
• Sukhoi starts testing 2nd Su-35 fighter prototype