Air Force likely to cut number of F-35 purchases

Posted on: Oct. 6th, 2005 || Source: dfw.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

GRAPEVINE - Future defense-spending reductions will likely lead to the Air Force buying fewer F-35 joint strike fighters than now planned, but a senior Lockheed Martin official says that should not drive up the aircraft's price.

"The best intel we have is the U.S. government is going to adjust the Air Force buy," Tom Burbage, Lockheed's executive vice president for the F-35 program, said Wednesday.

Pentagon plans call for the Air Force to buy about 1,700 F-35s over 15-20 years, out of a total U.S. purchase of about 2,400 planes. But defense analysts say those plans are likely to be altered because of ballooning federal budget deficits and changing military requirements.

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