Defense Secretary James Mattis has ordered a review of the costly F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the replacement program for the president's Air Force One jet, the Washington Examiner reports.
"The purpose of these reviews is to inform programmatic and budgetary decisions, recognizing the critical importance of each of these acquisition programs," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
"This is a prudent step to incorporate additional information into the budget preparation process and to inform the secretary's recommendations to the president regarding critical military capabilities."
The F-35 review will look at whether the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a cost-effective alternative. Lockheed Martin, which makes the F-35 said the jet fighter price will eventually be about $80 million each, the Examiner reported.
Boeing also makes the specialized 747 that will replace the fleet of two presidential jets.
The Hill reported the initial contract with Boeing to replace current jets was worth $25.8 million. A Government Accountability Office has put the cost at about $3.2 billion.
This reviews are expected to begin immediately, according to the Examiner.
The Hill noted President Trump has been critical of the costs of the F-35, which he said were "out of control." He has also criticized the Air Force One replacement plans and threatened to cancel the program.
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