Purchase of Lockheed Martin’s aircraft will cost Pentagon almost $400 billion over 30 years [View all]

[Triana]

We don't have a better use of $400 BILLION taxpayer dollars than to give it to Lockheed Martin as corprat welfare for purposes of eternal war?

. . .

The announcement by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford comes almost 14 years after Lockheed Martin Corp. beat out Boeing Co. for the F-35 military contract, with the Pentagon planning to spend almost $400 billion to develop and buy more than 2,400 jets.

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The F-35 is entering the fray more than four years late, and costs have spiraled to twice their original estimate, which has made it the subject of debate and criticism. The Marines’ move is expected to push supporters and critics alike to focus on the jet’s capabilities rather than just its cost.

Mandy Smithberger, a director at the Project on Government Oversight, said the Marines were determined to meet their July target even if the plane wasn’t fully ready. “We don’t think this is a genuine IOC,” said Ms. Smithberger, whose watchdog group has been a critic of the F-35 program.

Ms. Smithberger said the arrival of the first combat-ready jets will allow the plane to be compared more realistically to the planes it is due to replace, including the F-16 and A-10 Warthog. “Does the F-35 do this as well or better than what we’re throwing to the boneyard?” she said.

THE REST:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/marines-say-costly-f-35-jet-fighter-is-finally-ready-1438367615


_ _ _ _ _ _ _ FIRST comment on this article, which I wholeheartedly agree with_ _ _ _ _ _ _

What a disgusting use of hard-earned taxpayer money; the republican party staunchly defends defense expending like this and should be ashamed for accepting so many donations from companies like Lockheed. We spend so much on defense but defense spending doesn't increase our prosperity. Instead, we need to cut our defense spending and reinvest that in infrastructure, education, R&D, and paying down our deficit.