ORAC:
The U.S. Navy has reduced its planned buys of the Lockheed Martin F-35C Joint Strike Fighter by almost one-third over the fiscal 2016-2020 Future Years Defense Program......
You could almost be forgiven for thinking the USN is taking F35Cs under duress rather than of choice... which I think is exactly what is happening. A year or so ago they took an option on another 50-odd (or about that, I can't remember the exact number) SuperHornets. This was quickly withdrawn as the notice had apparently been 'issued in error'. With a less urgent need to recapitalise its fixed wing fast jet fleet and Greenert clearly not a fan, and with development both sluggish and expensive, they appear more attracted to UCLASS to supplement/replace their Superbug fleet as it ages. But they will have to support the USMC's F35Cs and I guess the combined USN/USMC order is necessary to justify the aircraft in the first place. I can't recall that there are currently any other takers for this version.
LF