Administration To Rethink F-22, F-35

Despite cost overruns that now place the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at between $80 million and $90 million per plane, the incoming Obama administration will likely continue to support it, says Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles R. Davis, the project’s program director. But because of the high price tag, Davis says, F-35 proponents should not be surprised if the project is scaled back. The F-22 Raptor, which is now replacing the aging F-15 fleet, also will survive, according to William Lynn, the man nominated by Obama as new deputy defense secretary.