AS PART of a document published on December 13 entitled Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2019 to 2028, the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) presented discretionary cost-cutting options that could shave billions of dollars from the defence budget. Among these was a suggestion that the Department of Defense (DoD) halts further production of the F-35 and instead buys the most advanced versions of older, non-stealthy fighter aircraft that are still in production. The CBO proposes that through to 2028 the USAF should purchase 510 F-16s, while the US Navy and Marine Corps should acquire 394 F/A-18E/FS. These would be purchased to a similar schedule as currently planned F-35 orders. The 429 F-35s already acquired by the US services would remain in operation. By the CBO's estimation, this would save about $13bn between 2020 and 2028. However, the CBO notes that a force composed of a mix of stealthy and non-stealthy aircraft would be less flexible against advanced enemy air defence systems. In addition, the US Marine Corps would end up with fewer F-35Bs for its amphibious assault ships
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