TORONTO — Canada is considering buying fighter jets other than U.S.-made F-35s because of escalating costs associated with Lockheed Martin’s troubled Joint Strike Fighter program, the country’s defense minister said Wednesday.
Defense Minister Peter MacKay said the government needs to ensure a balance between military and taxpayer interests.
MacKay said Canada needs to have all viable options on the table to replace the current fleet of 1980s-vintage CF-18s, which the government says will reach the end of their projected service life around 2020.
He reiterated that Canada wants to buy 65 jets for about $9 billion. But escalating costs and delays have dogged the F-35, which is now the most expensive U.S. Department of Defense procurement program ever.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario