Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Post
April 30, 2008
A $6 billion Lockheed Martin cruise-missile program marred by cost overruns and test failures survived a review to determine whether it should be terminated. Defense Undersecretary John J. Young Jr., the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, will send a letter to Congress certifying that the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile is vital to national security and should proceed, his deputy James Finley said.
The Pentagon concluded last year that the program had exceeded its projected cost by more than 50 percent. The overrun triggered the application of a law requiring the military to review the program and to certify its necessity. The weapon also showed reliability problems when four missiles designed for pinpoint accuracy and deemed "combat-ready" missed targets by as much as 200 feet or failed to detonate on impact during tests last year.
Additional tests were successful, Finley said.
April 30, 2008
A $6 billion Lockheed Martin cruise-missile program marred by cost overruns and test failures survived a review to determine whether it should be terminated. Defense Undersecretary John J. Young Jr., the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, will send a letter to Congress certifying that the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile is vital to national security and should proceed, his deputy James Finley said.
The Pentagon concluded last year that the program had exceeded its projected cost by more than 50 percent. The overrun triggered the application of a law requiring the military to review the program and to certify its necessity. The weapon also showed reliability problems when four missiles designed for pinpoint accuracy and deemed "combat-ready" missed targets by as much as 200 feet or failed to detonate on impact during tests last year.
Additional tests were successful, Finley said.