While the Pentagon now expects the plane to fly until 2088, GAO found the services are planning to slash flight hours, which can help hold down the program’s topline.
By Michael MarrowROC-X – The solution to organic precision strike capabilities
At AUSA Global Force 2024, IAI presented integrated, AI-driven combat systems – both manned and unmanned – that are opening new opportunities on the battlefield.
Older F-35 stealth fighters were slated to start getting the Technology Refresh 3 upgrade this month, but the Pentagon has postponed the retrofit plan to an unspecified date.
By Michael Marrow
The approval ends an ironic episode for the fighter nicknamed the “Lightning II.”
By Valerie Insinna and Michael Marrow
While over 900 F-35s have been produced, the program has technically been stuck in its initial operational testing phase for years over the delayed completion of the trials.
By Michael Marrow
Strong demand for the Joint Strike Fighter means a production crunch is lurking, a top US Air Force general tells Breaking Defense. But expanding production could be risky business for industry.
By Michael Marrow
A sweeping report on sustainment of the F-35 from the Government Accountability Office found that a lack of depot capacity is hurting the fighter’s mission capable rates, with other problems in access to technical data, availability of parts and over-reliance on contractors for maintenance.
By Michael Marrow
Lockheed CEO Jim Taiclet also said that TR-3 upgrade delays for the Joint Strike Fighter stemmed from late hardware, compressing the schedule for software testing.
By Michael Marrow
Millennium Space Systems is delivering on critical missile tracking constellation
With programs like MTC, Millennium Space Systems is redefining what it means to be an operational prime – rapidly delivering operational small sat constellations on rapid timelines.
The defense giant previously expected to deliver the first in a new series of upgraded F-35s by the end of this year, a schedule that has now slipped to April 2024 at the earliest.
By Michael Marrow
The agreement started as an undefinitized contract action in June 2022. The total value could reach as high as $8 billion.
By Michael Marrow
The United States is sending a delegation focused on the Indo-Pacific region, including top people from. the Navy and Marines, as well as officials with a broader ambit such as the head of DSCA and the F-35 Joint Program Office.
By Colin Clark
The Joint Program Office beleives it has a fix for a “rare system phenomenon involving harmonic resonance” in the F135 engine.
By Aaron Mehta
“As of yesterday, F-35 flight test organizations have ceased flight operations, but organizations that can continue verification activities via telework are continuing to do so,” Brandi Schiff, JPO spokesman, said yesterday in an email.
By Colin Clark
Newer A, B and C Variant aircraft are averaging greater than 60 percent mission capable rates, with some units consistently at or above 70 percent.
By Colin Clark
More than 80 percent of operational F-35s have returned to flight operations but the fuel tube problems may delay testing another two months.
By Colin Clark
