F-35 Debacle: No End In Sight

http://www.fitsnews.com/2013/03/13/f-35-debacle-no-end-in-sight/



TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVERBUDGET ... FIGHTER PROGRAM PRESSES ON

F-35 Debacle: No End In Sight
By fitsnews – March 13, 2013

The United States Department of Defense (USDOD) is less than one-third complete with the testing process for its “next generation” of fighter jets – the various F-35 models it has been planning since 2001.Meanwhile a government watchdog group told Reuters $12.7 billion would have to be budgeted annual through 2037 to finish the project … which has been marred by repeated delays.

Despite these figures, military leaders say they are adamant the F-35 program will not be adversely impacted by the recent federal sequester – a modest reduction in government spending after years of unsustainable excess.

In 2001, the Pentagon announced plans to build 2,866 jets at a total cost of $233 billion. As of last summer, it was promising fewer than 2,500 jets at a total cost of $400 billion. In other words, the cost per aircraft has more than doubled.

That’s pathetic … and a case study in Pentagon mismanagement.