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F-35 program too big to fail
http://www.wcax.com/story/21656160/f-35-program-too-expensive-to-failF-35 program too big to fail
Posted: Friday, March 15, 2013 6:23 PM EST Updated: Friday, March 15, 2013 7:49 PM EST
By Kyle Midura
BURLINGTON, Vt. - This week, Sen. Patrick Leahy wrote to a constituent, expressing concern with the cost of the military's newest fighter jet: the F-35.
~snip~
In the letter, Leahy wrote: "The F-35 program has been poorly managed and is a textbook example of how not to buy military equipment." He said he would like to halt the program, but doesn't believe the bulk of Congress would agree, and therefore still supports stationing a fleet of the super-planes in Vermont.
~snip~
Politically, de-commissioning the plane would be nearly impossible. Production is spread over 45 states and is projected to employ more than 250,000 people.
Local opponents of the plane have said the jets could create an unhealthy environment for those who live near the airport, because the F-35 is louder than the current crop of F-16s.