UK To Cut F-35 Purchases

Although the Royal Air Force intends to base its future air power on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Eurofighter, there may be as few as 40 of the F-35s to fulfill this role.

Future prospects for the F-35 joint strike fighter program got a lot murkier Tuesday after British government officials announced plans to delay and dramatically trim their purchases of the warplane from Lockheed Martin.

The sweeping review of defense programs unveiled by Prime Minister David Cameron envisions cutting purchases of F-35s from 138 planes to as few as 40. It would also delay the first orders until later this decade and switch the type of jet the British navy will operate.

The moves by the British, who for 15 years have been the foremost ally of the Pentagon in planning and paying for development of the F-35, figure to drive up the costs of buying aircraft for the U.S. and other governments and lead to further delays by other nations expected to buy the jets.

"This is not good news, bottom line," said Mackenzie Eaglen, defense analyst with the conservative Heritage Foundation. "Once there is a significant shift by any international participant, it opens the doors for others to follow."

To date, only Israel has indicated a firm commitment to purchase the F-35 -- and it will do so with funds from U.S. military aid programs. Lockheed officials say they expect an order from Australia early next year, while Canada has reaffirmed its intent to buy planes but given no timetable for doing so.

By: Shelldrake