https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/28/the-...y-for-war.html
•The U.S. Navy has declared its fleet of F-35C fighter jets ready for war, the
Department of Defense announced Thursday.
•The F-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, is the Pentagon’s most expensive
weapons system.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has declared its fleet of F-35C fighter jets ready
for war, the Department of Defense announced Thursday. The Navy joins the Marine
Corps and Air Force as the third and final service branch to declare their F-35s
ready for war.
"The F-35C is ready for operations, ready for combat and ready to win," said
Commander Naval Air Forces, Vice Admiral DeWolfe Miller in a statement. "We are
adding an incredible weapon system into the arsenal of our Carrier Strike Groups
that significantly enhances the capability of the joint force."
Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's top weapons supplier, designed three variants of
the fighter in order to accommodate the unique needs of each sister-service
branch: the F-35A for the Air Force, F-35B for the Marine Corps, and F-35C for
the Navy.
"This milestone is the result of unwavering dedication from our joint government
and industry team focused on delivering the most lethal, survivable and
connected fighter jet in the world to the men and women of the U.S. Navy," said
Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the F-35
Program, in a statement.
The F-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, valued at an acquisition cost of
$406.5 billion, has become one of the most challenged programs in Pentagon
history. The laundry list of setbacks includes faulty ejection seats, software
delays and significant helmet-display issues.
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