WASHINGTON: After much gnashing of teeth, the Air Force, Navy and Marines have decided the dates on which they are expected to field the first F-35 squadron capable of handling a range of combat missions, known as Initial Operating Capability (IOC).
“Today’s IOC announcement from the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy demonstrates the confidence they have in the F-35 program and the capabilities it will bring to the warfighter. I believe the aircraft design and technological capabilities of the F-35 are sound and the Joint Program Office will deliver on our commitments to meet service timelines,” Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, head of the F-35 program, said in a statement. The plane’s maker, Lockheed Martin, also used the word “confidence” in a statement.
The Air Force F-35A will reach the IOC milestone by December 2016. As we already reported, the Marine Corps F-35B will hit it by December 2015. The Navy version, the F-35C, will reach the IOC milestone by February 2019.
As you comb through the report, note the varying squadron sizes, varying combat missions and, intriguingly, the type of threats (not disclosed) they are expected to meet.
Here are the definitions that guided the services as they decided their IOC dates. These quotes come from the Pentagon report sent to Congress this morning:
“Air Force F-35A initial operational capability (IOC) shall be declared when the first operational squadron is equipped with 12-24 aircraft, and Airmen are trained, manned, and equipped to conduct basic Close Air Support (CAS), Interdiction, and limited Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD/DEAD) operations in a contested environment. Based on the current F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) schedule, the F-35A will reach the IOC milestone between August 2016 (Objective) and December 2016 (Threshold). Should capability delivery experience changes or delays, this estimate will be revised appropriately.
“Marine Corps F-35B IOC shall be declared when the first operational squadron is equipped with 10-16 aircraft, and US Marines are trained, manned, and equipped to conduct CAS, Offensive and Defensive Counter Air, Air Interdiction, Assault Support Escort, and Armed Reconnaissance in concert with Marine Air Ground Task Force resources and capabilities. Based on the current F-35 JPO schedule, the F-35B will reach the IOC milestone between July 2015 (Objective) and December 2015 (Threshold). Should capability delivery experience changes or delays, this estimate will be revised appropriately.
“Navy F-35C IOC shall be declared when the first operational squadron is equipped with 10 aircraft, and Navy personnel are trained, manned and equipped to conduct assigned missions. Based on the current F-35 JPO schedule, the F-35C will reach the IOC milestone between August 2018 (Objective) and February 2019 (Threshold). Should capability delivery experience changes or delays, this estimate will be revised appropriately.”
What does all this mean? After declining for more than a year to set IOC dates to which they could be held, the services now are committed to what is considered a major program milestone. It will offer Congress and the American taxpayer another tool to help keep the pressure on the Pentagon and on the plane’s maker, Lockheed Martin, as the program evolves..
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