U.S. might stick with F-35 plans, aiding Lockheed

Posted on: Dec. 1st, 2005 || Source: aimpoints.hq.af.mil | E-mail Article | Print Article

In a potentially favorable turn for Lockheed Martin Corp., the Defense Department is leaning toward keeping all three versions of the future F-35 fighter jet and extending production of the F/A-22 fighter by two years, according to people familiar with Pentagon budget deliberations.

The plan would maintain funding for two major Air Force weapons programs that have been considered to be among the prime targets for budget cuts amid mounting bills for the Iraq war. Spending plans could still change before the White House unveils its fiscal 2007 federal budget in February, but keeping both Lockheed aircraft programs largely intact would raise questions about where major Pentagon budget cuts will be made. Another program that had been targeted for cutbacks, the Navy's pricey DDX destroyer, was approved by the Pentagon last week to move ahead into detailed design and initial production.

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