The F-35's Software Problems Are Still Unresolved

A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet is seen in its hanger at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland October 28, 2015. REUTERS/GARY CAMERON

Bloomberg: Lockheed F-35's Cybersecurity Flaws Cited by Pentagon Tester

* Deficiencies `cannot be ignored,' Gilmore tells lawmakers
* Latest estimate sets F-35 cost at $379 billion, GAO says

Cybersecurity weaknesses in Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 are among “many unresolved deficiencies” hobbling the costliest U.S. weapons program as production of the fighter jet ramps up, the Pentagon’s top tester said.

“The limited and incomplete F-35 cybersecurity testing accomplished to date has nonetheless revealed deficiencies that cannot be ignored,” Michael Gilmore, the director of combat testing, said in a prepared statement for a House Armed Services panel hearing Wednesday.

Gilmore’s analysis that the F-35 program “is at a critical time” expands on previous reports on the risks inherent in building the planes even as they’re still being developed. A more optimistic assessment of the fighter’s progress will be offered to the House panel by Air Force Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan, who heads the Defense Department’s F-35 program office. Bogdan, like Defense Secretary Ash Carter, has said that the F-35 is on the right path after surmounting earlier obstacles.

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More News On The F-35's Many Problems

F-35 flight tests show radar software problems: Pentagon -- Reuters
Dodgy software will bork America's F-35 fighters until at least 2019 -- The Register
​Software fix readied to prevent further F-35 delay -- Flight Global
Pentagon to move ahead with $3 billion F-35 upgrade program in 2018 -- Reuters
GAO: F-35 engine ‘not performing at expected levels’ -- CT Mirror
American general admits the 'F-35' is actually 3 different fighter jets -- David Axe, The Week/War Is Boring
F-35 Full Combat Capability Will Be Four Months Late -- Defense News
F-35 Program Has Its Ups and Downs, But Making Steady Progress -- Signal
F-35 chief cites 'good, bad and ugly' about No. 1 U.S. arms program -- Reuters
F-35 'jackass of all trades': think tank -- SKY News
Abandon or Keep the F-35 Lightning II: America’s Ally Debates -- Andrew Davies, National Interest
How Lockheed Martin's Grand Plan for the F-35 Fell Apart -- Motley Fool