Anxiety remains in the DoD about the effects of the upcoming across-the-board spending cuts, the F35 is still one of the main targets.
Budget cuts would reduce flying hours, F-35 orders: Air Force | Reuters
WASHINGTON | Wed Feb 6, 2013 3:18pm EST
(Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force will have to curtail its orders for Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 fighter jet, restructure a $52 billion tanker contract with Boeing Co and reduce its flying hours by 18 percent if lawmakers do not avert impending across-the-board spending cuts, the service told Congress on Wednesday.
The Air Force, in a draft presentation to Congress, said it faced shortfalls of $1.8 billion in war funding and $12.4 billion overall if Congress does not forestall the cuts, known as sequestration, which are due to take effect on March 1.