Support cited for F-35 fighter after joint meeting

The United States and eight other countries helping to develop the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter underscored their full and continued support for the program, according to two sources who attended a gathering hosted by Canada. Despite US plans to put off orders for 179 planes over the next five years and a steady drip of news about technical problems and developmental issues, a statement issued by Canada on Friday cited "good progress" on the program.
Julian Fantino, Canada's associate minister of National Defence, hosted a dinner on Thursday and all-day meeting at his country's embassy in Washington, D.C., on Friday to improve communication among political officials from all nine partner countries. They agreed to make it an annual event.
"While good progress continues to be made, we will always be vigilant with our stewardship of taxpayers' hard earned dollars," he said in a statement, adding that Canada would stick to stick to its budget for replacing its ageing F-18 fighters. He said the program had already resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of contracts for Canadian firms. The two sources said all nine countries underscored their full and continued support for what one described as the "backbone of allied defence in the free world".
Lockheed Martin Corp is developing three variants of the radar-evading, supersonic fighter jet for the United States and eight countries - Canada, Britain, Australia, Turkey, Denmark, Norway, Italy and the Netherlands. Senior US officials sought to reassure the partner countries that Washington remains committed to the multinational program, and that it values their participation.
The slowdown in US orders and budget pressures at home have prompted some of the partners to rethink their own orders. Italy last month cut its planned buy of 131 planes by 30 percent, and others may follow suit. Privately, some foreign and even US officials have expressed concern that the Pentagon's actions and tough comments from some officials are eroding support for the program despite significant strides in testing. Japan, one of the first foreign customers outside the partnership, this week said it may cancel orders for 42 F-35 fighters if the price goes up or deliveries are delayed.
"Our support of this program is clear," said Pentagon spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Melinda Morgan. Navy Vice Admiral David Venlet, the official who manages the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, and acting acquisition chief Frank Kendall gave updates about development milestones and testing of the new warplane, as did officials from Lockheed. "The international partnership is integral to F-35 development and we maintain strong lines of communication with the partner countries' leadership about Joint Strike Fighter development and testing," said Joe DellaVedova, spokesman for the F-35 program office.
Fantino organised the meeting to facilitate greater collaboration among political officials from the nine countries funding the plane's development - the first time so many countries have worked together to design and build a new plane.
In the past, the Pentagon has provided updates to senior leaders from the partner countries only on a bilateral basis. But military officials from the nine countries already meet twice a year for review sessions. The next military-level meeting will take place March 14-15 in Australia, where the partner countries will formally update their procurement plans.