Air Force committed to F-35: Geren

Published: Sep 10, 2005
Source: www.dfw.com



DALLAS - Acting Air Force Secretary Pete Geren reaffirmed the service’s commitment to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 joint strike fighter Friday, but said the number of planes that will be built remains up in the air.

At a speaking engagement in Dallas, Geren dismissed recent reports that the Air Force’s version of the F-35 might be offered up as a budget sacrifice to save billions for other Pentagon programs.

The Air Force needs the F-35 and more expensive F/A-22 Raptor, Geren said in response to a question at the Dallas Friday Group luncheon. "The future of our Air Force is to do both of those."

Later, Geren stoutly denied reports that senior Air Force generals would forego the F-35 for more F/A-22s and other weapons.

"I can assure you the Air Force wants the F-35," Geren said, to replace its aging F-16s.continue..