Lankan Ranger
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U.S. government may cancel its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program
U.S. government is threatening to cancel its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program unless Congress approves a credible deficit reduction plan.
U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta includes the F-35 program in a detailed list of items that could be on the chopping block should a so-called “super committee” fail to deliver on a plan to find $1.2-trillion-in savings over the next 10 years.
The bi-partisan committee – officially called the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (JSCDR) – must reach a deal by next Wednesday. Should they fail, across the board cuts to government spending, described as “sequestration,” would kick in almost immediately.
In letters to Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, Mr. Panetta outlines what these cuts could look like.
“If the JSCDR fails to meet its targets and sequestration is triggered, [Department of Defence] would face huge cuts in its budgets,” Mr. Panetta writes in a letter dated Nov. 14.
“Decisions related to major programs could include: Terminate Joint Strike Fighter; minimal life extensions and upgrades to existing forces,” the letter states, describing this measure as a potential savings of $80-billion U.S.
The likelihood of this scenario is unclear at the moment. Mr. Panetta’s letter is clearly an attempt to pressure the committee to avoid these cuts by approving a plan in advance of the deadline. Commentary in the United States suggests there is a high degree of uncertainty as to the odds the committee of Senators and members of the House of Representatives will come up with a plan.
Washington could scrap its F-35 jet purchase - The Globe and Mail
U.S. government is threatening to cancel its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program unless Congress approves a credible deficit reduction plan.
U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta includes the F-35 program in a detailed list of items that could be on the chopping block should a so-called “super committee” fail to deliver on a plan to find $1.2-trillion-in savings over the next 10 years.
The bi-partisan committee – officially called the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (JSCDR) – must reach a deal by next Wednesday. Should they fail, across the board cuts to government spending, described as “sequestration,” would kick in almost immediately.
In letters to Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, Mr. Panetta outlines what these cuts could look like.
“If the JSCDR fails to meet its targets and sequestration is triggered, [Department of Defence] would face huge cuts in its budgets,” Mr. Panetta writes in a letter dated Nov. 14.
“Decisions related to major programs could include: Terminate Joint Strike Fighter; minimal life extensions and upgrades to existing forces,” the letter states, describing this measure as a potential savings of $80-billion U.S.
The likelihood of this scenario is unclear at the moment. Mr. Panetta’s letter is clearly an attempt to pressure the committee to avoid these cuts by approving a plan in advance of the deadline. Commentary in the United States suggests there is a high degree of uncertainty as to the odds the committee of Senators and members of the House of Representatives will come up with a plan.
Washington could scrap its F-35 jet purchase - The Globe and Mail