Agence France-Presse,
WASHINGTON: UK Defence Secretary John Reid has expressed confidence the Joint Strike Fighter is still the best replacement for the Royal Navy's fleet of Harrier jump jets.
'We're pretty confident that the US, in their own interest, not just in ours, will make sensible decisions on the Joint Strike Fighter,' he said, according to Agence France-Presse.
Reid met here with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld amid reports that the Pentagon is preparing for a possible 32 bln usd cut in defense spending over the next five years that could cut into major weapons programs like the Joint Strike Fighter.
Rumsfeld acknowledged only that 'there are a lot of moving pieces' between congressional deliberations on the 2006 defense budget, preparations for a proposed 2007 budget, and a major defense review that is looking at US military capabilities.
The UK has a big stake in the Joint Strike Fighter program, with a two bln usd investment and an 8.6 bln order for 150 of the multi-purpose fighters.
Reid said the UK will be making a final decision in the first half of next year on its plans to build two new aircraft carriers.
