Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter hits more turbulence


Developed by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is DOD’s most expensive and most
ambitious acquisition program. The program is estimated to be nearly 70
percent over budget

Continued software problems related to the Defense Department’s F-35
Joint Strike Fighter program could lead to delivery delays of
less-capable aircraft at a long-term price tag that may prove
unaffordable, congressional investigators said today.

Developmental testing of software deemed critical to the F-35′s initial
warfighting capability remains so far behind schedule, the Marine Corps
may not receive all of the capabilities it expects when it plans to
begin flying the F-35. In addition, continued delays could push the
total lifecycle cost of the F-35 from its current projected level of
$390.4 billion to an estimated $1 trillion — a figure with which DOD
program officials disagree.

“Delays in developmental flight testing of the F-35’s critical software
may hinder delivery of the warfighting capabilities the military
services expect,� according to a report released today by the Government
Accountability Office. “Challenges in development and testing of mission
systems software continued through 2013, due largely to delays in
software delivery, limited capability in the software when delivered,
and the need to fix problems and retest multiple software versions.
Delivery of expected warfighting capabilities to the Marine Corps could
be delayed by as much as 13 months. Delays of this magnitude could also
increase the already significant concurrency between testing and
aircraft procurement and result in additional cost growth.�

In addition to delivery deadlines and weapon system capabilities issues,
DOD also faces steep financial burdens related to the F-35 acquisition
effort. For the program to continue as planned, DOD will have to
dedicate an average of $12.6 billion per year through 2037, with several
years peaking at $15 billion, according to GAO. At $12.6 billion per
year, the F-35 would consume almost one-quarter of DOD’s annual major
defense acquisition funding.

“Annual funding of this magnitude clearly poses long-term affordability
risks given the current fiscal environment,� GAO investigators
concluded. “The F-35 fleet is estimated to cost around $1 trillion to
operate and support over its lifetime. In a time of austere federal
budgets, cost projections of this magnitude pose significant fiscal
challenges.�

DOD plans call for spending $400 billion to develop and acquire 2,457
F-35s — known as the Joint Strike Fighter — through 2037, plus hundreds
of billions of dollars in long-term spending to operate and maintain the
aircraft. The F-35 family of next-generation fighter aircraft will
incorporate stealth technologies, which make it more difficult to be
identified by radar, as well as advanced sensors and computer networking
capabilities. DOD is developing three U.S variants for the Air Force,
Navy and Marine Corps, as well as eight international variants that will
be sold to allies.

The F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin, is DOD’s costliest and most
ambitious acquisition program. The program is estimated to be nearly 70
percent over budget.

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The Pentagon exists more than just partly to keep officers in uniform
and defense contractors in business. What a fripping this F35 program is.