A trifecta of issues....
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021...tled-lockheed/
‘
Don’t expect more money’ for additional F-35s in FY22, lawmakers tell an embattled Lockheed
WASHINGTON — Two influential Democrat lawmakers warned on Thursday that they will not support boosting the number of
Lockheed Martin-made F-35 joint strike fighters in the upcoming fiscal 2022 budget unless the program makes headway in addressing
a laundry list of problems.
“If this program continues to fail to significantly control and reduce actual and projected sustainment costs, 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, D-N.J., who chairs the House Armed Services Committee’s tactical air and land subcommittee.
“Given the overall affordability concerns that exist within the program, I would not support any requests for additional aircraft beyond what is contained in this year’s president’s budget request,” he said during a hearing on the F-35.
Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., who leads HASC’s readiness subcommittee, doubled down on Norcross’s vow to fight adding extra F-35s to the FY22 budget.
“The program is over budget. It fails to deliver on promised capabilities. And its mission capability rates do not even begin to meet the service thresholds,” Garamendi said. “Industry’s solution to many of these problems is simply to ask the taxpayers to throw money at the problem. That will not happen. The easy days of the past are over.”........
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021...istics-system/
F-35 program office announces a ‘strategic pause’ on new logistics system
WASHINGTON — The Defense Department is pausing its efforts to field replacement software for the F-35′s troubled logistics system due to a lack of funding, the head of the F-35 program office said Thursday......
Fick’s testimony did not address when the program office intends to restart ODIN software development efforts, saying only that the JPO will update its plan based on available funding, inputs from the services and its finalized strategy for migrating from ALIS to ODIN......
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021...-engine-price/
Turkey’s removal from F-35 program to cause hike in engine price
WASHINGTON — The cost of
the F-35′s engine is set to increase by 3 percent due to
Turkey’s removal from the program in 2019, the head of Pratt & Whitney’s military engines division said Thursday.......
Aside from the forthcoming engine cost increase, the F-35 program is also grappling with difficulties in sustaining the F135 due to a power module shortage.
On April 22, a total of 21 Air Force F-35As were grounded due to engine problems, said Brig. Gen. David Abba, who leads the F-35 integration office. Fifteen of those aircraft would be flyable with engine repairs.......
The F-35 program is beginning to see increased output of F135 power modules due to the arrival of needed support equipment and technical data, Fick said.......
However, because the services will begin conducting 2,000 hour overhaul inductions in 2022, the program office estimates the costs to maintain the F135 will grow over the next five years, Fick stated........