Will A President Trump Support The F-35 Fighter Jet Program?

A Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35A. Photographer: George Frey/Bloomberg

Bloomberg: Trump’s Doubts on F-35 Jet Cast Pall on Pace of Defense Buildup

* President-elect will face key early decision on F-35 purchases
* U.S. has ‘very few other options’ than sticking with fighter

Donald Trump’s doubts about the $379 billion F-35 jet, the Pentagon’s largest weapons program, could cast a pall over the defense industry’s early euphoria that a major boost in spending is coming after the next administration takes office.

The stealthy fighter built by Lockheed Martin Corp. was the only major weapons program Trump questioned during the campaign, even as he espoused the need for a larger Army and more warships. In an October 2015 interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump criticized the jet’s costs and said he heard “that it’s not very good. I’m hearing that our existing planes are better.”

He’ll have to decide quickly whether that skepticism still stands.

Read more ....

Update #1: Lockheed Martin talks F-35 with Trump transition team (Star-Telegram)
Update #2: The F-35 Stealth Fighter Is Politically Unstoppable—Even Under President Trump (Motherboard)

WNU Editor: Lacking options .... and with continued Congressional support of the F-35 program .... it is not going to be easy for a President Trump to pull back this program.