Joint Strike Fighter jet cuts possible - Lockheed

Published: Oct 01, 2005
Source: today.reuters.com



BRUSSELS, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp.'s (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) chief executive has acknowledged its $245-billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet programme could suffer because of strains on the U.S. defence budget but insisted the project's future was secure.

The new jet, which the United States is developing with eight other countries, is the country's most expensive arms programme ever. Of the tentatively planned 2,400 U.S. aircraft, the U.S. Air Force would get around 1,700, the Marine Corps at least 400 and the Navy up to 300.

"Those numbers may or may not be the numbers that will be discussed in the next round," Lockheed's Chief Executive Robert Stevens said at a briefing late on Thursday during a trip to Brussels.continue..