Pentagon Proposes Extension of F/A-22 Fighter Production Line

Published: Dec 01, 2005
Source: www.bloomberg.com



Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The Pentagon is proposing to extend by two years, until 2010, production of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F/A-22 stealth fighter, according to a government official familiar with the decision.

The proposal calls for slightly reduced production levels in 2007 and 2008 at Lockheed Martin's plants in Marietta, Georgia, and Fort Worth, Texas, said the official, who requested anonymity. Work on the plane would continue at those facilities in 2009 and 2010, and ultimately a few more than the 180 planes already approved by Congress would be built, the official said.

The Pentagon wants to keep F/A-22 production going until the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program -- the Pentagon's largest single weapons project -- proves itself in combat testing and begins full production, said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Washington-based Lexington Institute, a research organization.

``Funding will continue until 2010,'' Thompson said. ``They want to ensure a warm production line for the F-35.''

About $46 billion has been approved by Congress for F/A-22 spending since the 1980s. The total program is valued at $61 billion.continue..