Friday, January 16, 2015

Pentagon Requests Permission to Purcahse Two More F-35s

The Pentagon will request funding in fiscal 2016 to buy 57 F-35 jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT), two more than previously planned, according to two government officials.

The Defense Department’s previous five-year plan had projected buying 55 of the fighter jets during the year that begins Oct. 1, said the officials, who asked not to be identified before President Barack Obama submits his budget to Congress on Feb. 2.

If approved by lawmakers, the acquisition would mark a major increase for a program that’s experienced cuts amid tight defense budgets and setbacks in testing of the costliest U.S. weapons system. The Pentagon had requested 34 of the jets for the current year, and Congress increased that to 38.

The projected budget for 55 aircraft was $9 billion; the added cost for two more planes wasn’t immediately available.

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