Commandant: Short-Takeoff JSF Is 'Affordable'; Lockheed Martin Receives $19 Billion Contract to Build 22 Test Aircraft

Erwin, Sandra I., National Defense

The Marine Corps version of the Joint Strike Fighter, at approximately $50 million a piece, would be an "affordable" airplane, when compared to the prices seen in other aviation programs today, said Gen. James L. Jones, commandant of the Corps.

The JSF prime contractor, Lockheed Martin Corp., won the competition against archrival Boeing on October 26. The company was awarded a $19 billion contract to continue the development of JSF for the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps and the U.K. Royal Navy. The consensus among industry experts was that Lockheed's short-takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) technology for the Marine Corps version of JSF gave it a winning edge over Boeing.

Undersecretary of Defense Edward C. 'Pete' Aldridge said the Air Force version of JSF would cost about $40 million, while …

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Publication information: Article title: Commandant: Short-Takeoff JSF Is 'Affordable'; Lockheed Martin Receives $19 Billion Contract to Build 22 Test Aircraft. Contributors: Erwin, Sandra I. - Author. Magazine title: National Defense. Volume: 86. Issue: 577 Publication date: December 2001. Page number: 25. © 2009 National Defense Industrial Association. COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group.

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