2017-01-31

President Donald Trump touted a $600-million cost rebate for the F-35 warrior jet module in remarks Monday. But that amount appears to be identical to a formerly designed cost condense by a Department of Defense.

Trump took credit for a reduction, revelation reporters that a cut relates to 90 planes.

“I was means to get $600 million approximately off those planes,” he said. “I consider that was a good achievement. So we conclude Lockheed Martin for being so responsive.”

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is constructed in batches, and a cost per craft is approaching to diminution with each lot. The subsequent batch, famous in troops lingo as low-rate initial prolongation 10, is approaching to enclose 90 planes. Negotiations are still ongoing to establish pricing for these planes.

Defense hulk Lockheed Martin Corp. is a plane’s builder.

In December, Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, module executive officer for a F-35 corner module office, pronounced a cost per craft in this arriving collection could diminution 6% to 7%.

The F-35 comes in 3 variants to fit a needs of a Air Force, Marines and a Navy, with apart prices for each. In a prior collection of planes, a many common F-35A various was labelled during $102.1 million per jet, with a F-35B during $131.6 million per jet, and a F-35C during $132.2 million per jet.

With this in mind, Bogdan’s expectancy of a 6% to 7% rebate per craft would put a sum cut for all 90 planes — that includes all 3 variants — between about $576 million and $672 million.

Lockheed Martin pronounced in a matter that a association appreciated Trump’s comments “on a certain swell we’ve done on a F-35 program.”

“We share his joining to delivering this vicious capability for a group and women in uniform during a lowest probable cost to taxpayers,” a organisation said.

When asked either a $600 million cut mentioned by Trump was in further to a already-planned cut, a association declined to criticism on “ongoing discussions,” and referred that doubt to a F-35 corner module office.

The corner module office, in turn, pronounced “negotiations are ongoing and we design to get a good understanding for a taxpayers and for a warfighter.”

Last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis ordered a examination of a F-35 module and a costs, and also asked for a together examination of either a capabilities of a F/A-18E/F Super Hornet could review with that of a F-35C.

Caption SAG Awards: A night when politics trumped a prizes themselves

Anyone tuning in to a SAG Awards on Sunday meditative they competence be evading news headlines for a integrate of hours was fast disabused of that idea as leader after leader used the platform to pronounce out opposite President Trump’s immigration ban.

Anyone tuning in to a SAG Awards on Sunday meditative they competence be evading news headlines for a integrate of hours was fast disabused of that idea as leader after leader used the platform to pronounce out opposite President Trump’s immigration ban.

Caption Thousands of protesters during LAX

More military arrived to conduct a throng and free a roads during LAX as thousands protested President Trump’s transport restrictions.

More military arrived to conduct a throng and free a roads during LAX as thousands protested President Trump’s transport restrictions.

Caption State agencies argument over off-roading along strand dunes

New conflict over open use of a beach and silt dunes along a seashore nearby Pismo Beach.

New conflict over open use of a beach and silt dunes along a seashore nearby Pismo Beach.

Caption Dodgers FanFest: Take me out to a round game

Sights and sounds from Saturday’s Dodgers FanFest during Dodger Stadium.

Sights and sounds from Saturday’s Dodgers FanFest during Dodger Stadium.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

@smasunaga

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