The United States Navy has decided not to put all its eggs in the F-35 basket. The navy has trimmed its order for the 2016-2020 period by full third. It has also canceled a missile system designed specifically for the over priced, overdue and under-performing light attack bomber.
The USN has decided that money can be put to better uses, mainly a new stand-off missile.
Whistling past the graveyard, the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) Program Office said the American navy's "commitment to the program remains strong" and that the loss of orders will be made up by international customers. Yeah, right.
Here's another thing to ponder. There's a powerful faction of the navy brass that doesn't want the service saddled with the F-35. It's pushing for the quick development of a replacement warplane, possibly unmanned, with all-aspect stealth, longer range, greater payload, improved agility, etc., etc., etc. Cutting the existing F-35 order may be a way to keep that door fully open.
