Official: Despite delay, JSF needs will be met

[unhappycamper]

The Air Force will get enough F-35 Lightning IIs to meet its needs despite a one-year delay in the program, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans Barbara Westgate said Feb. 17.


Official: Despite delay, JSF needs will be met
By John Reed - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 17, 2010 14:26:11 EST

A senior Air Force requirements official said Wednesday that the service will get enough F-35 Lightning IIs to meet its needs despite recent program delays.

Barbara Westgate, the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for strategic plans, told reporters that while the F-35 program has suffered setbacks in the testing phase, she is confident that the Air Force will be equipped with the jet in time to “have the required capabilities we need, when we need it.” She spoke during an Aviation Week-sponsored conference in Washington.

The air service is banking on the F-35 to replace most of its aging fighters, which must be retired this decade or given costly service life extensions.

Just weeks ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced a restructuring of the Joint Strike Fighter program that cut procurement funds for the jet and extended the plane’s test phase until 2015. On Monday, Deputy Defense Secretary Bill Lynn announced that, even with the restructuring, the F-35 program will likely be delayed by one year.

Westgate could not say how the restructuring will affect the service’s planned annual purchases of 80 F-35s.


Rest of article about this $239 million dollar POS at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/02/airforce_f35_needs_021710w/