Pentagon Suspends Procurement of 100 F-35 Fighters

23.09.2011 US Department of Defense is about to suspend procurement of 100 prospective fighters F-35 Lightning II with a view to economize defense budget, reports Reuters. It is planned to shorten purchase amount within nearest 5 years – that is a paragraph in a 5-year budget plan Pentagon to submit for Congress consideration. The final decision is expected to be made in Nov-Dec 2011.

Presently, F-35 development and construction program is one of the most expensive military projects in the US. Reducing of F-35 procurement is a part of more ambitious program to reduce US budget deficit which makes about $1.3 trillions in 2011. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin managing the Lightning II project has already imparted apprehensions that possible reductions would cause underfunding of F-35 program.

Earlier, Pentagon postponed purchase of F-35 fighters trying to restructure expenses of the aircraft development program. As of today, production of 224 fighters has been suspended. Generally, Lockheed Martin has won 5 low rate initial production (LRIP) contracts. Pentagon bought two F-35 aircrafts under LRIP, 12 under LRIP II, 17 under LRIP III, 31 under LRIP IV, and 42 fighters under LRIP V program. If all amendments to procurement plan are approved, US Department of Defense would not place orders for prospective airplanes during the next 5 years.

In total, DoD plans to purchase 2,443 F-35 fighters which will take $382 bln. New airplanes will be commissioned into US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps.