SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) Jay Williams, who's challenging U.S. Senator John Thune in November, says it's time to look at the shortcomings of the Nation's newest fighter jet, the Lockheed-Martin F-35 "Lightning II" known as the Joint Strike Fighter. Speaking with KELO Radio on Tuesday, the Yankton businessman and former Navy pilot says one of his supporters called the issues to his attention.
The study was conducted by the Center for Defense Information and released last week by the Project On Government Oversight.
(link here: http://www.pogo.org/straus/issues/weapons/2016/f-35-may-never-be-ready-for-combat.html
Williams says the main concerns for him are value for price, weapons capabilities and software issues. He's urging Senator Thune to "do his job and investigate this project to ensure the American people are not duped by an unnecessary program". Williams claims that if the study is correct in it's assertions, it's merely a "money maker for a defense contractor" He admits he's not spoken to any defense officials directly on the topic, and did not know of the F-35's current status.
The South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing is vying to be a base for a Squadron of the revolutionary fifth generation combat aircraft. It's bid as a finalist location should be determined soon. The U.S. Air Force already has the jet operating at five bases, the Navy and Marine Corps and numerous allied air arms will also operate the airplane, known as the "Lightning II". More on the F-35 capabilities here: https://www.f35.com/
