Gates Gets Tough on JSF Waste as F-35 Chief Pays with His Job | Aviation International News

Gates Gets Tough on JSF Waste as F-35 Chief Pays with His Job

Confirmation of the serious problems in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development came yesterday when U.S.

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

February 2, 2010

Confirmation of the serious problems in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development came yesterday when U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates dramatically fired the Marine general running the program. Maj. Gen. David Heinz, the program executive officer, took the blame for the delays and cost increases that have mounted in recent months. Gates also withheld $614 million in performance fees from prime contractor Lockheed Martin.

President Obama’s defense secretary, who also held the post under President George W. Bush, announced “a strategy to stabilize the cost and schedule” of the F-35 program, which includes an additional year for development. But he still approved nearly $11 billion for the jet in the fiscal 2011 U.S. defense budget that was also announced yesterday. This money will buy 42 aircraft “and possibly more, depending on contractor performance,” he said.

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