F-35 Cockpit Upgrades Exceed $440 Million in Overrun Costs as US Congress Grows Skeptical of Program
Airman Gabrielle Spalding
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Sputnik International
https://sputniknews.com/us/202104211082695583-f-35-cockpit-upgrades-exceed-440-million-in-overrun-costs-as-us-congress-grows-skeptical-of-program/
Last month, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), chairman of the US House Armed Services Committee, railed against the growing costs of the already well-over-budget F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The lawmaker argued the US should stop throwing money down that particular rathole and instead explore ways to cut the country s losses with the fighter jets.
Despite the US government awarding Lockheed Martin a $712 million contract for F-35 cockpit upgrades in December 2018, the actual cost for the defense company to redesign the fighter jet s cockpit computer may amount to some $1.28 billion, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing disclosures from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
By Garrett Reim2021-01-29T23:33:00+00:00
Lockheed Martin’s board of directors has elected its president and chief executive James Taiclet to an additional role, chairman of the board, starting 1 March.
Former chief executive and current executive chairman Marillyn Hewson plans to retire from the board, the company said on 29 January. Hewson stepped down from her former role as chief executive in June 2020.
Source: Lockheed Martin
Chief executive James Taiclet and executive chairman Marillyn Hewson
“Marillyn provided leadership that helped us to implement a smooth and successful transition,” Taiclet says. “As a result, we were able to accomplish strong financial and operational performance in 2020 and shape a vision for how we will support our nation and allies to meet the heightened threats of the 21st century.”