F-35, how is Lockheed Martin’s Jsf program going?
Unresolved defects for the F-35 and the Gao cost predictions are not reassuring
More turmoil for the F-35 program, Lockheed Martin's fifth generation fighter.
The F-35 fighter remains marked by more than 800 unresolved software and hardware deficiencies of varying severity that could compromise readiness, missions or maintenance, according to updated statistics released Tuesday by the Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation (Dot & E).
The number of "open deficiencies", which include eight in the most severe category 1, has not significantly improved since the fighter's development and demonstration phase ended in April 2018 "because testing continues to uncover new problems" Raymond O'Toole Jr, head of Dot & E , said in a statement to a House Armed Services subcommittee.
But it doesn't end there for the Jsf program.
According to current estimates, the US Air Force will reach a tipping point where the anticipated maintenance costs of the F-35 will become too exorbitant, forcing the military to cut down on planned purchase of the fighter or drastically reduce flying hours. according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Therefore, the GAO suggested that the Pentagon report annually to Congress on its progress in achieving the F-35 targets within the available funds and that “F-35 procurement decisions depend on the DoD's progress. of Defense) in achieving these constraints ".
Recall that recently Switzerland has chosen to acquire 36 US F-35A fighters (for 5 billion francs) with the first deliveries expected in 2027. In the meantime, the decisions of Canada and Finland on the choice of the new fighter fleet are awaited.
All the details.
THE LACKS OF THE F-35 HUNTING
The 864 pending shortages last month "are slightly less than the 872 we reported in March 2021," said Jon Ludwigson, director of the GAO. More than 670 aircraft are in operation today on a potential 3,316 for US military and foreign customers, with nine countries declaring the aircraft to have initial operational capability.
"The deficiencies represent specific cases where the weapon system does not meet the requirements or where the safety, suitability or effectiveness of the weapon system could be compromised," Ludwigson said.
THE LOCATION OF LOCKHEED MARTIN
Following the Dot & E remarks, Lockheed Martin spokesman Brett Ashworth said in an email that the company has seven Category 1 deficiencies "pending government decision." According to Lockheed Martin, all deficiencies are in category 1B – that is responsible for "a critical impact on mission readiness," training or maintenance – but none are in category 1A, which is considered potentially life-threatening.
WHAT THE GAO HAD RECOMMENDED
Bloomberg recalls that in 2018 Gao himself recommended that the Pentagon's F-35 program office address all critical deficiencies before making a decision on full-scale production, the most profitable stage for a contractor. Pentagon officials agreed and "stated that the resolution of the critical deficiencies identified during testing will be addressed prior to the full-scale production decision," Ludwigson said.
“According to program officials, at least seven of these critical deficiencies will be resolved before operational testing is complete,” Ludwigson said.
ESTIMATES ON COSTS
As Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps F-35 operations reach their peak in 2036, it will be difficult for the military to afford the F-35 if the cost stays at current estimates, the GAO claims. a report dated July 7 .
Specifically, according to the GAO, the DoD will face a $ 6 billion gap in 2036 between the actual cost of maintaining the F-35s and the cost that the military can afford.
"If projected annual cost overruns are not reversed and aligned with affordability constraints, over time there will be significant and increasing pressure on the DoD's annual budget as the number of aircraft in the F-35 fleet increases," he said. stated the Gao.
HOW MUCH WILL THE F-35 PROGRAM COST
As DefenseNews recalls, “The F-35 program will cost taxpayers a total of $ 1.7 trillion over its life cycle, according to the Pentagon's 2020 estimate. Support activities – which include maintenance of the fighter, manpower required to support the aircraft, fuel and ammunition costs for training, support equipment, some costs associated with training and other expenses – are quantified in 1.3 trillion dollars of F-35 life cycle costs ”.
The $ 1.3 trillion estimate reflects an increase of more than $ 150 billion since the program was restated in 2012. According to the GAO, there are signs that maintenance expenses may continue to rise.
The maintenance cost problem is damaging the Air Force, the F-35's single largest customer.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/f-35-come-va-il-programma-jsf-di-lockheed-martin/ on Mon, 19 Jul 2021 06:52:28 +0000.