F-35 crashes in US apparent first crash of its kind
CAROLINA: A US F-35 fighter was completely destroyed in a crash while training Friday, officials said. While the pilot safely ejected.The crash appears to be the first of its kind for the troubled F-35 program, marking an unfortunate moment for the most expensive plane in history.Speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement, a defense official told AFP that the Marine Corps F-35 had crashed outside Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina."It''s a total loss," the official said.The Beaufort County Sheriff''s Office said the pilot safely ejected and was being evaluated for injuries.Unit costs vary, but the price tag of F-35s is around $100 million each.The crash comes just one day after the US military first used the F-35, which has been beset with delays and cost overruns, in combat.Multiple Marine Corps F-35s struck Taliban targets in Afghanistan.Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 program is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years.Once servicing and maintenance costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft''s lifespan through 2070, overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion.
from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2QhmSJR
from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2QhmSJR
0 Response to "F-35 crashes in US apparent first crash of its kind"
Post a Comment