U.S. should consider F-35 fighter cuts, a study suggests

Published: Jun 25, 2007
Source: www.canada.com



WASHINGTON -- The United States should consider slashing the number of Lockheed Martin Corp. <a href="/page/48/F-35-Lightning-II.html">F-35 fighter</a> aircraft it plans to buy, largely because it does not have the reach needed to fight well in Asia, a leading military research group said in a report Wednesday.

The private Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments voiced fears the F-35, the Pentagon's costliest arms acquisition ever, might crowd out what it called needed investments in longer-range strike capabilities.

"China in particular has the strategic depth to locate key facilities beyond the reach of short-range systems," said the study titled U.S. Fighter Modernization Plans: Near-term Choices.continue..