Gates replacing JSF chief

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Robert Gates is replacing the general in charge of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and withholding $614 million in award fees from contractor Lockheed Martin. The F-35 program manager, Air Force Maj. Gen. David Heinz, will be replaced by a yet-to-be-announced higher-ranking general. The Pentagon plans to buy more than 2,400 F-35s over the next 25 years for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Gates disclosed the changes as he released the Pentagon’s proposed $708.3 billion spending package for fiscal 2011. (Source: New York Times, 02/01/10) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., will be the home of the JSF training center.