USMC: EFV Axed, F-35B Delay?
01.05.2011 at 11:10pm
In breaking news, the New York Times is quoting Pentagon and industry officials as saying Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is soon to announce the termination of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) program. The article also reports that Gates is likely to approve a two-year delay in testing of the Marine version (short-takeoff, vertical-landing) of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in order to solve part malfunction problems and that he is not expected to recommend a reduction in production of the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
If the EFV gets cancelled because it has been poorly managed and over-budget, that’s all well and good. If it gets cancelled because it is thought that ship-to-shore capability is unneeded, then it is rash and shortsighted.