It may be premature to say the future of U.S. strike aviation will be the first casualty of the U.S. budget crisis, but there can be little doubt that it is in jeopardy—compliments of the congressional Super Committee's abject failure to agree on a plan for reducing the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion. Whether there are adequate alternatives to the F-35 is debatable if the program is delayed, reduced or killed. Termination of the U.S. Air Force's F-35A would kill the program. But it also could be delayed, or full-rate production could be cut from the current goal of 80 aircraft a year. The Navy's F-S5C and the Marine Corps'F-S5B are subject to any of the same outcomes. Adding to the clouded outlook for the F-35, and more broadly to that of U.S. strike aviation, is that the Pentagon and the program's leadership have yet to produce firm guarantees about the Joint Strike Fighter's initial operational capability dates, as well as procurement and support costs.
Download from (depositfiles.com) or (filesonic.com)
