Pentagon: Crack won't affect future of F-35 fighter

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/02/25/184124/pentagon-crack-wont-affect-future.html



The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is unveiled in 2006.


Pentagon: Crack won't affect future of F-35 fighter
By Matthew Schofield | McClatchy Newspapes
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2013

WASHINGTON — A small crack on an engine blade of the controversial F-35 fighter jet means the planes will again be grounded, but the defect does not yet appear to have any effect on the future of the aircraft, a Pentagon official said Monday.

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“This is one part, on one plane that had some kind of defect," he said, but added that with safety of the aircraft paramount, “the logical and prudent thing to do was to ground the aircraft."

Despite a 12-year history of cost overruns and technical problems for a program that now is expected to cost almost $400 billion, the latest setback, for the time being at least, is seen as no more than that; just another setback.

"There is absolutely no backing away from our commitment to the F-35 program,” Little said.



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