F-35’s New $412 Billion Cost Estimate Is a Modest Increase By Its Standards
- Pentagon’s estimate brings cost for US fleet to $412 billion
- Maintaining, operating fleet still projected at $1.3 trillion
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The Pentagon’s latest estimated cost to develop and procure the F-35 fighter jet, the world’s most expensive weapons program, has edged up to $412 billion from $398 billion, according to the Defense Department’s latest program report.
The $398 billion estimate held steady for several years before the latest 3.5% increase, outlined in the Defense Department’s new Selected Acquisition Report on major weapons.