New LRIP Contract for F-35 Agreed, as Canada Wavers
AIN Defense Perspective » December 14, 2012
An F-35A test aircraft releases an AIM-120 AMRAAM for the first time last October. In recent weeks, F-35s have also dropped the 1,000-pound GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and the 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
December 14, 2012, 12:50 PM
After protracted negotiations, Lockheed Martin reached an agreement in principle with the Pentagon for the fifth lot of low-rate initial production F-35s (LRIP-5). The company has reported new flight-test milestones for the Lightning II stealth fighter in recent weeks. But there was less good news from Canada, which is reconsidering its commitment to the F-35 on cost grounds.
The Ottawa Citizen newspaper reported that a committee of Canada’s federal cabinet had completely scrapped the country’s plan to buy F-35s, a report the Prime Minister’s office denies. However, there are plenty of indications that Canada is having second thoughts, especially since the Auditor General reported last spring an increase from $15 to $25 billion in the total cost to acquire and operate 65 aircraft over 20 years. Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose told the Canadian parliament on November 22 that the government is committed to “a full evaluation of all choices.” It now seems probable that Canada will join Denmark, amongst the F-35 partner nations, in formally evaluating alternative aircraft.
The Ottawa Citizen newspaper reported that a committee of Canada’s federal cabinet had completely scrapped the country’s plan to buy F-35s, a report the Prime Minister’s office denies. However, there are plenty of indications that Canada is having second thoughts, especially since the Auditor General reported last spring an increase from $15 to $25 billion in the total cost to acquire and operate 65 aircraft over 20 years. Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose told the Canadian parliament on November 22 that the government is committed to “a full evaluation of all choices.” It now seems probable that Canada will join Denmark, amongst the F-35 partner nations, in formally evaluating alternative aircraft.
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar
Merk: Bare medlemmer av denne bloggen kan legge inn en kommentar.