Trump blasts ‘out of control’ costs for F-35 fighter
WASHINGTON: President- elect Donald Trump took aim Monday at a second US aerospace giant in as many weeks, this time attacking the F- 35 stealth fighter and its ‘out of control’ costs.
With a current development and acquisition price tag of US$ 379 billion for a total of 2,443 F- 35 aircraft — most of them destined for the Air Force — the Lockheed Martin- built plane is the most expensive in history, and costs are set to go higher still.
“The F- 35 programme and cost is out of control. Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th,” Trump said on Twitter, as Defence Secretary Ashton Carter was in Israel to celebrate delivery of the country’s fi rst two of the Lockheed Martin fighters.
Trump has frequently turned to Twitter to vent his outrage across a range of topics.
On Dec 6, he blasted Boeing over the possible US$ 4 billion price tag for a replacement Air Force One presidential plane. He also called that project ‘out of control’.
Lockheed Martin stocks closed at 253.11 on Monday, down 2.47 per cent.
Once servicing, maintenance and other costs for the F- 35 are factored in over the aircraft’s lifespan through 2070, overall programme costs have been projected to rise to as much as US$ 1.5 trillion.
But Lockheed insisted the F- 35 programme was ‘amazing’ and said it would welcome the chance to answer any questions Trump may have.
The Pentagon declined comment.
The US Air Force declared an initial squadron of F- 35A fighters “battle ready,” in August, after reports of cost overruns and delays. — AFP to