Show Costly F 14 The Navys Navy's long-awaited long new fighter to replace the respected much-respected F 4 is encountering encountering encountering en en- countering severe cost lems A recent sharp increase in the price of each F 14 has soured some members of Congress on the new fight fight- er TIlE THE LATEST chilling financial fi financial financial fi- fi news is that each- each had been tentatively pro- pro will run some 28 million above estimates It has been known for some time that each aircraft aircraft aircraft air air- craft would probably cost a million dollars more than original estimates THUS THE increase in the cost of the F 14 might amount to as much as two billions Clearly this is too much for forthe forthe forthe the Department of Defense the Navy and Congress Yet acquisition of the F 14 is a must for the Navy The United States has lagged in fighter development development development develop develop- ment in recent years-be- years cause it spent so many billions billions billions bil bil- bil- bil lions in Asia RUSSIA FOR example has a dozen fighters in the development stage while this nation has placed its hopes in the Navys Navy's F 14 and anda a new Air Force fighter Congress must therefore provide funds for the F 14 though perhaps for fewer of them This latest example of cost overruns however so frequent in recent years points clearly to the overwhelming overwhelming overwhelming over over- whelming need for inflationary inflation inflation- ary controls even price and wage controls in certain defense defense defense de de- de- de industries if necessary |