via Breaking Defense.
The the aircraft budget, the Navy wants to spend $18.6 billion to purchase 148 aircraft, including 20 F-35Cs, which is four more compared to last year’s plan. But it also wants to buy 10 F-35Bs, 10-plane fewer than estimated last year. There is also a line for 24 more F/A-18E-F Super Hornets.Story here.
When it comes to the proposed F-35 cuts, those decisions were “tied to force structure mixes,” Crites said, adding that the Navy and Marines are looking to avoid duplicating efforts.
Elsewhere, the Marine Corps F-35B program was slashed by 19 planes over the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP), with 10 fewer in 2020, five in 2021, three in 2022 and one in 2023.
The headline is about ship building. The Navy says its gonna get its 300 plus ship fleet (planned). But what caught my attention is the F-35 news.
Avoiding duplication of effort?
Are you kidding me?
Something is going on with the F-35. They slashed half the planned F-35Bs and are only plussing up the C purchase by 4 aircraft? Yet the line for 24 more Super Hornets remain?
What is happening behind closed doors with that airplane!
The sand has shifted under the programs feet while we were watching. I'm gonna be checking out Lockheed Martin stock to see if it takes a hit.
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