By Dion Nissenbaum
WASHINGTON--The U.S. Defense Department announced Tuesday that
it won't send its advanced F-35 jet fighter to England for a
long-awaited international debut because of lingering concerns
about an engine fire that has dealt a blow to the Pentagon's most
expensive military program.
While the military cleared the F-35 for limited flights early
Tuesday, the Pentagon said that the restrictions made it impossible
to fly the plane to England to take part in the Farnborough
International Airshow currently under way. The entire F-35 fleet
was grounded on July 3 because of an engine fire that raised
concerns about safety of the next generation fighter jets.
Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said that
the Pentagon still has confidence in the F-35, but that the
restrictions still in place on the jets made it impossible to send
one to England.
The cancellation also deals a blow to Lockheed Martin Corp.,
which makes the F-35, and United Technologies Corp. unit Pratt
& Whitney, which makes the engines.
Write to Dion Nissenbaum at dion.nissenbaum@wsj.com
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