U.S. general's Australian outburst could undermine F-35 program

[unhappycamper]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/02/us-lockheed-fighter-orders-idUSBRE92101M20130302



Another $243 million dollars down the toilet.

U.S. general's Australian outburst could undermine F-35 program
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
Fri Mar 1, 2013 9:32pm EST

(Reuters) - An outburst in Australia this week by the Pentagon's chief buyer for the costly F-35 Joint Strike Fighter risks undermining the program at home and abroad, U.S. defense officials and industry experts say.

At an Australian air show, Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan accused the plane's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and engine maker Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp (UTX.N), of trying to "squeeze every nickel" out of the U.S. government for the planes.

Bogdan, who took over the $396 billion program in December, told reporters it's not his job to be a "cheerleader for the F-35." But for some in the industry, the words stung.

"Airing dirty laundry in front of a key customer who's on the fence about buying more competing aircraft, is a very dangerous game," said aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group. He said Australia is already considering plans to buy more Boeing (BA.N) F/A-18 Super Hornets, which could wind up reducing its planned purchase of 100 F-35 fighter jets.

[Historic NY]

1. Honesty vs the military industrial complex...

The good General is correct.