Delayed.
Again.
Looks like we're going to get an all STOVL force regardless now. The F/A-18A/C/D's and the EA-6's are all going to run out of airframe time. Those spares from the UK will definitely come in handy. Read the expected news here. But as always a tidbit below. I wonder why they dribble this info out instead of just laying it on the table?
I wonder when Black Friday for weapons programs is going to occur. My prediction for cuts...
The Pentagon is gearing up to restructure Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program for a third time in three years, sources said, with production of more than 120 more planes to be postponed to save money and allow more time for development.
The latest changes should save the Pentagon about $15 billion from fiscal 2013 through 2017 and will be part of the fiscal 2013 budget plan to be sent to Congress in February, according to three sources familiar with planning for the Pentagon's largest weapons program.
President Barack Obama will join Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Pentagon on Thursday to discuss overall defense budget cuts and a revamped military strategy.
They are expected to mention the F-35 fighter plane and reiterate continued support for the program, but details of the restructuring plan and plans for other big weapons programs may not emerge until later this month, the sources said. The sources declined to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly ahead of the official release of the president's budget.
1. Ground Combat Vehicle.
2. JLTV.
3. Marine Personnel Carrier.
4. DDG-51
Reduced buys...
1. MV-22
2. F-35
3. LCS
4. CSAR replacement
And probably a bunch more that I just can't recall. The boom times for defense is over. The lean times are here. Funny thing. The ending of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the drivers behind this move. In all actuality a smaller defense budget has been in the making since the Bush Administration, only the 9/11 attacks destroyed the groundwork that they were laying. Don't think cutbacks. Think Revolution of Military Affairs (RMA) or Transformation.