Posted on 03/22/2017 4:41:23 PM PDT by markomalley
The head of defense giant Lockheed Martin on Tuesday said President Trump “absolutely did contribute” to the company’s speedy deal on the F-35.
Lockheed chief executive Marillyn Hewson said Trump’s involvement in the February deal was "perfectly appropriate,” adding that the company has now set a goal to save more than $5 billion on the aircraft.
“We were in discussions ... and he helped accelerate that along, and I think he put a sharper focus on price and how we would drive the price down,” Hewson told reporters at a Lockheed media event in Arlington, Va. “So he absolutely did contribute to us getting to closure on that.”
The most recent Pentagon purchase of the F-35, called Lot 10, includes 90 aircraft — 55 for the U.S. military and 35 for international partners. The $8.5 billion purchase brought down the price from the last batch of planes by $728 million and dropped the cost of the F-35A variant below $100 million for the first time. Trump — who bashed the F-35 program as being too expensive while on the campaign trail and wrote on Twitter in December that costs were “out of control" — took credit for the driving down the price. Analysts and Pentagon insiders argued the price would have come down year over year, regardless of his involvement.
Hewson did admit cost reductions would have continued as more planes are bought but said Trump’s “emphasis and his engagement did absolutely make a difference.”
“Since his election, President Trump has made clear that he and his administration will be focusing on ensuring that the government is a smart buyer, getting the most for the taxpayer’s dollar,” Hewson said. “In our positive and constructive dialogues over the last few months we were able to communicate how Lockheed Martin is fully aligned with these efforts.”
The Pentagon is currently negotiating the next block buy of 120 F-35s. Costs for the aircraft are expected to be more than $10 billion.
Hewson said Trump “has not been involved” in those negotiations, but the company is “working well” with Defense Department officials and experts to have a deal by the end of the year.
You’ve got a point there don’t you.
Generally it’s a pile or rubbish.
Looks like Lockheed got Trump’s message: “There’s going to be money coming your way. In the meantime, don’t piss me off.”
But hey...there are people around here are complaining that Trump spends too much going to Mar-a-Largo....the guy has saved us billions in the first month alone and gave up his $1.6 million 4 year salary .... one poster actually wants him to suffer along with the poor DC hacks that will be out of a job!!
More winning! $100 million each might sound like a lot, but back in the day F-14s were $35 million each and nowhere near as capable as the F-35.
How dare you inject reality into the discussion. We need to subscribe to the liberal media arguments that the F-111, F-15, F-16, F-22, E-3A, B-1B, B-2, C-5 and Tomahawk cruise missile will never meet our expectations.
Needless to say, the rumors of its demise were "greatly exaggerated."
FWIW, current fly away cost of a Boeing FA-18 is 99 million bucks a ship so purchasing the second block of F-35 production will be cheaper than buying new production FA-18s.
You forgot the doom and gloom reports on the disasters that were to be that are the A-10 Warthog and the M1 tank
And people forget that that $35 million for F-14s, F-15s, and F-16s was 35 years ago.
Not building it in CT would save a bunch.
Then of course a couple RAT Senators wouldn’t get their “donations”
You are right. Anything that doesn’t give away other people’s money to gibmedats is slammed in the media.
I’d rather have more F-22s, to be honest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.