Gates wants delay of F-35 purchases

Bloomberg reports that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a delay in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, cutting the Pentagon’s planned purchases by 10 aircraft in fiscal 2011 and a total of 122 through 2015, according to a budget document. More than $2.8 billion that was budgeted earlier to buy the military’s next-generation fighter would instead be used to continue its development. (Source: Bloomberg, 01/07/10) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is scheduled to be home of the Joint Strike Fighter training center; Lockheed Martin has multiple operations in the Gulf Coast.