Lockheed Martin has finally reduced the cost of new batch of F-35 fighter jets that it will be selling to the US Defence Department.
The defence major will now sell 90 new F-35 fighter jets at a reduced cost of $8.5 billion which means that the US Defence Department will save more than $700 million compared to the last batch of aircraft delivered.
The Air Force version of the plane, F-35A, will now cost $94.6 million, marking a 7.3 percent reduction from an earlier batch and pushing the price per plane below $100 million for the first time.
The marine version of the aircraft will cost $122.8 million, and the Navy's version will cost $121.8 million.
Lockheed Martin, in a statement, credited President Donald Trump for helping to "accelerate negotiations" and "drive down the price" of what is already the most expensive weapons program in history.
"President Trump's personal involvement in the F-35 program accelerated the negotiations and sharpened our focus on driving down the price," the statement said.
Trump had earlier called for a review of whether a modified version of the older F/A-18 aircraft could replace the Navy's costly F-35 variant.
