Posted on 11/19/2010 4:32:38 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Lockheed Martin Corp. received a fourth production contract for 31 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets valued at $3.48 billion, the Pentagon said.
The terms call for building 16 of the planes for the U.S. Marine Corps configured for short takeoffs and vertical landings, 10 of the Air Force version of the jet; four Navy models and one for the U.K., the Pentagon said today. There is an option to assemble a 32nd aircraft for the Netherlands.
The award is a boost for Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed as the $382 billion JSF program faces new questions over development and testing that are running more than four years behind schedule. The Pentagon's top weapons buyer, Ashton Carter, is set to lead a major review of the JSF on Nov. 22.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
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I just read a book called Skunk Works by Ben Rich, former President of Lockheeds Skunk Works. What a bunch of true patriots. The book is about 25 years old and Rich died a year after publication.
Interesting fact. The SR-71 was originally called the RS-71 but President Jouhnson mispronounced it and the DOD, instead of telling Johnson he misspoke, spent a few million dollars changing the official designation and reprinting all the documentation and blueprints.
Wow. I did not know that.
:)
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