The US defense Department, is reported to have said that the F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the aircraft can not be accepted, since the dispute over who will provide the financial means for the “production error, discovered last year on more than 200 hidden jets,” Reuters reported on Wednesday.
“The F-35 joint program office temporarily suspended the acceptance of aircraft until we reach agreement on the question of the Treaty and we expect that it will soon be resolved”, – the representative of “Lockheed Martin” announced Reuters.
Just last fall, corrosion of parts that are connected with the skin of the aircraft with the glider in the result of the termination of deliveries of the Pentagon of the plane that generate about $100 million of revenue per unit of Lockheed Martin. The company ultimately led to the expected number of aircraft by the end of 2017.
The dispute stems from “what is likely to be technically challenging to fix, which may require technicians to travel widely to repair the aircraft based around the world,” according to Reuters citing three sources familiar with the situation.
The Pentagon has not yet given comment, despite attempts by several news agencies to get one.
Lockheed Martin said the company is still working, and that they are “confident” they will still deliver 91 aircraft the Ministry of defence in 2018, as required by the contracts for the aircraft.
At least one us Naval official noted that “Lockheed Martin” was deliberately sluggish in the course of negotiations with the government, so far as to interfere with the process of providing exact figures on the plane of the true value.
“I’ll tell you, I’m not happy with the consultation and cooperation with “Lockheed Martin” … they could be much, much more collaboration and cooperation,” Vice Admiral Mat winter, Director of the f-35 program office, said in March.
“The price goes down, but it’s not coming fast enough,” the Admiral said.
“We can seal the deal faster. We could. Not choosing and negotiating tactics… we don’t know with the level of detail that I want to know” what is”, what it actually costs to manufacture this aircraft,” – he explained.
The cost of the F-35 joint strike fighter programme was estimated at more than 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars over the 60 year life-cycle.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
