

In response to lawmakers, Navy says budget cuts will add $700 million long-term to retrofit fighters.
By Theresa Hitchens
WASHINGTON: The F-35 program began taking a major step the last two weeks toward removing an enormous albatross from around its neck by replacing the much-maligned ALIS logistics system with its sleeker, faster and younger replacement, ODIN. The move to install ODIN on two of 14 deployments brings the logistics and planning system to units in…
By Colin Clark
“I don’t sense that the lack of that milestone is doing anything other than providing a launching point for criticism of the program,” JPO Director Lt. Gen. Eric Fick said.
By Theresa Hitchens
“We’ve always been bullish on the program’s prospects, but admit we’re more worried than we have been in a long time,” wrote Roman Schweizer of Cowen Washington Research Group.
By Theresa Hitchens
“If this program continues to fail … we may need to invest in other more affordable programs, and backfill an operational shortfall of potentially over 800 tactical fighters,” said Rep. Donald Norcross, chair of the HASC tactical air and land forces subcommittee.
By Theresa Hitchens
“In day-to-day operations, one of our four core values at Kessel Run is ‘ideas over rank,’ says Kessel Run’s Nick Setterberg.
By Theresa Hitchens
Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said the Space Command basing decision is being reopened, with a choice delayed until the end of the year — at the earliest.
By Theresa Hitchens
Asked during his briefing here whether 25 by 25 was achievable, Greg Ulmer, head of the F-35 program for Lockheed Martin, said the company would prove itself just as it had by lowering the cost of an F-35A to below $80 million one year early.
By Colin Clark
Acquisition chief Ellen Lord wants a radically new way of buying software, but appropriators have to approve.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
“F-35 aircraft performance is falling short of warfighter requirements—that is, aircraft cannot perform as many missions or fly as often as required. This lower-than-desired aircraft performance is due largely to F-35 spare parts shortages and difficulty in managing and moving parts around the world”
By Colin Clark