Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) CEO Marillyn Hewson has said she assured President-elect Donald Trump that the company will work to reduce the cost of the F-35 fighter aircraft, CNN reported Friday.
Danielle Wiener-Bronner writes Hewson made the remarks in a Twitter post Friday a day after Trump asked Boeing (NYSE: BA) to quote a competing price for its F-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft due to cost overruns in the F-35 program.
“I gave him my personal commitment to drive the cost down aggressively. … and we’re ready to deliver, †she said.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) told FOX 61 that a possible reduction in the F-35 production would result in job losses in Connecticut and would have an impact on national security.
“Phasing out the (F-35) program and adopting F-18 not only deprives Connecticut of jobs, it deprives our nation of air superiority, †Blumenthal said.
Engines for the F-35 fighter jets are assembled in Connecticut and Florida, according to FOX 61.
Defense analysts say they are uncertain whether Lockheed will cut the F-35’s price since the fighter aircraft has area-denial and anti-access platforms, stealth capabilities that are not present in Boeing’s F-18s, according to a report by Seth Burton for Facts Reporter.
