Lockheed aims to deliver all 36 F-35 jets in 2013, sees progress on program

[unhappycamper]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/14/us-lockheed-f-idUSBRE9BD00R20131214



Lockheed aims to deliver all 36 F-35 jets in 2013, sees progress on program
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
FORT WORTH, Texas Sat Dec 14, 2013 12:08am EST

(Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) still expects to deliver the final seven of 36 F-35 fighter jets to the U.S. government from its Fort Worth, Texas facility, before year-end despite a five-day halt in test flights due to bad weather over the past week, the company's F-35 program manager said on Friday.

Lorraine Martin, executive vice president and F-35 general manager, said 2013 has been a transformative year for the $392 billion program, marking the beginning of pilot and maintainer training, reductions in production costs, and progress on software, weapons testing and other technical issues.

She said the program - the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program - remained intensely focused on finishing development and flight testing of the next-generation fighter over the next three years, as well as driving down the cost of building and operating the planes.

"The program is on stronger footing than ever before," Martin told 2,000 workers and guests at a ceremony celebrating completion of the 100th F-35 at the company's mile-long plant in Fort Worth that included patriotic songs and videos.

[intaglio]

1. Even if they have to deliver them by UPS n/t