Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Pentagon Is Predicting More F-35 Delays

Photo Credit: USAF

More F-35 Delays Predicted -- Aviation Week

Less than two years after a new Pentagon leadership team adopted a new integrated master schedule (IMS) for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program—which in 2010 plans was to have been declared operational by now—the latest plan is at risk, according to the Defense Department's chief weapons-tester.

Software required to meet the Marine Corps' limited initial operating capability (IOC) date is already expected to be eight months late relative to the August 2011 IMS, Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon's director of operational test and evaluation (DOT&E) told the Senate defense appropriations subcommittee on June 19. Radar and electro-optical system snags have delayed weapons integration, consuming all the margin built into weapons testing. Buffet and transonic wing-drop “continue to be a concern to achieving operational combat capability.”

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More F-35 News

F-35 soars onward despite massive cost -- Daily Caller
F-35 Stealth Fighter is Now "Too Big to Fail" — $400 Billion Later -- Policymic
Lockheed Looks Abroad Amid Possible F-35 Delay -- Investors.com
Lockheed Martin creates international arm in sales push -- Reuters
Pentagon has no plans to put off increased F-35 production -- Star Telegram
F-35's air-to-air ability limited -- Eric Palmer Blog

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