Lockheed F-35 fighter would be combat ready on schedule with the Marine Corps by June 2015, followed in 2016 by deployment with the U.S. Air Force. The lack of ability of the F-35’s software to allow the fighter to fire its armament is expected to be solved by the outlined schedule.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said “the F-35 was on track for its debut with the service next year after it redeployed maintenance staff to plug a gap.” Navy Secretary Ray Mabus stated at an event that the F-35 stealth fighter would be ready for the U.S. Navy by the end of the decade.
Air Force Secretary Deborah James spoke that a contract award to build a new nuclear-capable long-range bomber may be made in May or June 2015. Northrop Grumman Corporation and the team of Lockheed Martin and Boeing will more than likely manufacture 80 to 100 bombers. This program alone estimated to cost US taxpayers $80 billion dollars.
(Doug Cameron WSJ)
