BAE Says Trump Seeking at Least 10% Cut in F-35 Fighter Cost

Thanks to William for the link!

via Bloomberg

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has asked Lockheed Martin Corp. to reduce costs on the $379 billion F-35 fighter-jet program by at least 10 percent, according to Roger Carr, chairman of BAE Systems Plc, which is a key participant in the program.
“We’ve been told through Lockheed that the president has an ambition to reduce the cost of that aircraft by a material amount of money, many percent, into double digits over a period,” Carr said in a Bloomberg Television interview Tuesday from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We respect that and we’ll work towards a contribution towards that.”

I don't buy this for a minute.  My bet is that Lockheed is throwing a number out there that they think the Program Office will be pleased with so that the uniforms can sell the plan to the President Elect.

Trump is a skilled negotiator and you don't lay down a solid number like 10 percent.  You push for max savings!

But what has me spinning is why did BAE release this info instead of Lockheed?  Games are being played!