FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2001
CONTACT: Lisette Mondello
SENATOR HUTCHISON STATEMENT ON JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER
FORT WORTH, TX -- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison on Friday released the following statement regarding the decision to award the contract for the Joint Strike Fighter to Lockheed Martin.
"I was here with you in Fort Worth five years ago to celebrate the section of Lockheed as one of the two finalists in the Joint Strike Fighter competition. And five years ago, I predicted that you would win the competition, and that we would be back here together to celebrate your victory.
"The Pentagon's selection of Lockheed's X-35 marks the culmination of an eight-year effort by Lockheed and its partners, Northrop-Grumman and British Aerospace, to develop an affordable, flexible and lethal family of aircraft.
"Like all Lockheed products that have rolled off this assembly line in Fort Worth, the X-35 will exceed expectations and make an immeasurable contribution to our nation's security. This fighter will set the standard for the next quarter century for all multi-role combat aircraft."
Senator Hutchison serves on both the defense subcommittee and the military construction subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
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