Pentagon weighs cuts in F-35 program

Published: Nov 16, 2005
Source: www.dfw.com



PHOENIX -- Top Pentagon officials are still weighing whether to order dramatic cuts in the size and scope of the F-35 joint strike fighter program, including possibly eliminating one of the three planned versions of the aircraft.

A senior Lockheed Martin official and an independent defense budget expert said Tuesday that the F-35 program, despite previous support from the Defense Department, is not immune from budget cuts.

The major threat to the program may be posed by former Lockheed Martin executive Gordon England, now the deputy secretary of defense, who is guiding the Pentagon's efforts to craft a 2007 defense budget, which will be hashed out next year.continue..