Pentagon to push sale of fighter

Source URL: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22872206-31477,00.html
Posted at: http://www.air-attack/com/news/news_article/2874

THE Pentagon is expected to pressure the Rudd Government for an early commitment to buy the controversial Joint Strike Fighter, despite the project being plagued by rising costs and technical problems.

Alarm is growing in US military circles about the cost of the JSF, or F-35, and the reluctance of any US allies, including Australia, to commit to early orders.

Australian and US officials have held talks on reducing costs, including a reduction of test flight aircraft and greater use of ground-based testing.

No country wants to purchase the early batches of the F-35s, due to start in 2009, because they will be prohibitively expensive compared with those sold in later years, when larger-scale production runs will reduce unit costs by more than half.

The Howard government's $15billion plan to place an order for up to 100 F-35s late next year for delivery in 2013 is now on hold, as the Rudd Government conducts a review of options for the air force.

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