The U.S. General Accounting Office raised concerns about LOCKHEED
MARTIN CORP.'s F/A-22 fighter jet, saying the Pentagon should
weigh the high risk of future cost increases and program delays
before deciding in December to start full production. The
investigative arm of Congress said costs for the program that
began during the Cold War era were expected to grow to $80
billion from an Air Force estimate of $72 billion, and the
Pentagon had not explained why it still needed the fighter in a
changed military environment. In an annual report to Congress,
GAO said the Pentagon estimated it would cost $11.7 billion to
expand the air-to-ground attack capability of the F/A-22, which
some critics decry as a Cold War relic, a stealthy jet initially
designed for air-to-air combat with Soviet MiGs.
(Reuters 03:06 PM ET 03/15/2004)

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