Commandant: Short-Takeoff JSF is 'affordable'; lockheed martin receives $19 billion contract to build 22 test aircraft.(joint strike fighter)(Brief Article) From: National Defense | Date: December 1, 2001| Author: Erwin, Sandra I. | COPYRIGHT 2001 National Defense Industrial Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The Marine Corps version of the Joint Strike Fighter, at approximately $50 million a piece, would be an "affordable" airplane, when compared to the prices seen in other aviation programs today, said Gen. James L. Jones, commandant of the Corps.

The JSF prime contractor, Lockheed Martin Corp., won the competition against archrival Boeing on October 26. The company was awarded a $19 billion contract to continue the development of JSF for the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine...