us debt troubles..views on defence plays, page-4

Just in from the ABC...

Pentagon cuts target F-35 program

By North America correspondent Craig McMurtrie

Posted 59 minutes ago

US defence secretary Robert Gates has unveiled a new cost-cutting drive at the Pentagon, including cuts to the troubled F-35 fighter project.

Mr Gates wants to cut US defence spending by $100 billion over the next few years.

He says the Pentagon needs to get more bang for its buck and that includes the expensive Joint Strike Fighter project, which is running behind schedule and tens of billions of dollars over budget.

The Pentagon's top weapons buyer, Ashton Carter, says all cost increases associated with the F-35 fighter will be examined.

"How we can enhance the productivity of the Joint Strike Fighter program so the price comes down?" he said.

Australia is an interested party, having already signed up to take delivery of 14 of the new generation fighters, beginning in 2014.

.....this is not a cut in the program, they will be looking for cost over-runs to be stopped and should help the low cost suppliers like QHL.

CD