F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
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Originally posted by Lone_Wolf:
No, I don't think you can arrive at that conclusion.
No, I don't think you can arrive at that conclusion.
Odds are you will be able to. By the time summer rolls around there will be a customized definition of IOC designed to fit wherever the F-35B situation might be. It is known as moving the goal posts. Gen. Bogdan has already accomplished this once on expected F-35 combat capabilities. Stay tuned…
IIRC the first "deployed" squadron will be in Iwakuni Japan (forward deployed is a term of art in the USN for forces based out of the US) and their acid test will of course be: when will your det embark on an amphib and hit the mil exercise and collective training circuit?
Seventh Fleet is dying to know, I suspect.
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Originally posted by Lone_Wolf:
IIRC the first "deployed" squadron will be in Iwakuni Japan (forward deployed is a term of art in the USN for forces based out of the US) and their acid test will of course be: when will your det embark on an amphib and hit the mil exercise and collective training circuit?
IIRC the first "deployed" squadron will be in Iwakuni Japan (forward deployed is a term of art in the USN for forces based out of the US) and their acid test will of course be: when will your det embark on an amphib and hit the mil exercise and collective training circuit?
United States Marine Corps F-35B IOC Date and Capabilities:
Marine Corps F-35B IOC shall be declared when the first operational squadron is 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. The F-35B shall have the ability to conduct operational missions utilizing SDD program of record weapons and mission systems. The aircraft will be in a Block 2B configuration with the requisite SDD performance envelope and weapon clearances. The first Marine Corps F-35B operational squadron shall have 10-16 primary aircraft and shall be capable of deploying and performing its assigned mission(s). Support and sustainment elements shall include spares, support equipment, tools, technical publications, training programs and devices, and Autonomic Logistic Information System V2.
Marine Corps IOC is capability based and will be declared when the above conditions are met. If the F-35 IMS Version 7 executes according to plan, Marine Corps F-35B IOC criteria could be met between July 2015 (Objective) and December 2015 (Threshold). Should capability delivery experience additional changes, this estimate will be revised appropriately.
The criteria stated above will provide sufficient initial combat capability for the threat postulated in 2015. However, in order to meet the full spectrum of Joint warfighter requirements in future years, the Marine Corps will require enhanced lethality and survivability inherent in Blocks 3F and beyond.
Marine Corps F-35B IOC shall be declared when the first operational squadron is 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. The F-35B shall have the ability to conduct operational missions utilizing SDD program of record weapons and mission systems. The aircraft will be in a Block 2B configuration with the requisite SDD performance envelope and weapon clearances. The first Marine Corps F-35B operational squadron shall have 10-16 primary aircraft and shall be capable of deploying and performing its assigned mission(s). Support and sustainment elements shall include spares, support equipment, tools, technical publications, training programs and devices, and Autonomic Logistic Information System V2.
Marine Corps IOC is capability based and will be declared when the above conditions are met. If the F-35 IMS Version 7 executes according to plan, Marine Corps F-35B IOC criteria could be met between July 2015 (Objective) and December 2015 (Threshold). Should capability delivery experience additional changes, this estimate will be revised appropriately.
The criteria stated above will provide sufficient initial combat capability for the threat postulated in 2015. However, in order to meet the full spectrum of Joint warfighter requirements in future years, the Marine Corps will require enhanced lethality and survivability inherent in Blocks 3F and beyond.
The question at that point is whether anyone in Congress will ask pertinent questions such as "How do you do CAS with no Rover, no gun, no HD sensor and the fuel fraction of a clean F-16?" or "How do you do OCA/DCA with two AMRAAMs?" or "How do you do reconnaissance with one MWIR camera and nothing better than L16 to send data to anything except another F-35?"
These are the requirements to be met and completion dates which have been provided to the United States Congress regarding IOC for the F-35B. I believe this information is legally required to be submitted to Congress by the DoD. Do you think IOC will be declared in July by the DoD and the Navy Secretary in July as they have been advertising?
This program slides farther right (as a habit) than a figure skater at the end of a routine.
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Latest US Government GAO Report on The F135 Engine released yesterday:
http://www.dodig.mil/pubs/documents/DODIG-2015-111.pdf
I thought the rebuttal comment from Pratt & Whitney, reported in various publications, was interesting:
"But, the engine performed well for the Navy's takeoff and landing exercises."
To which one could comment, "It's elementary my dear Watson."
http://www.dodig.mil/pubs/documents/DODIG-2015-111.pdf
I thought the rebuttal comment from Pratt & Whitney, reported in various publications, was interesting:
"But, the engine performed well for the Navy's takeoff and landing exercises."
To which one could comment, "It's elementary my dear Watson."
The performance bar was sent a bit higher than that for the money spent. Turbine: thanks for the link, that's going to take a bit of time to digest over a cuppa Joe. Hmm, given all of the gov'mint speak in the text, it may take something stronger.
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Objective
We inspected the F-35 engine (F135) program’s quality management system for conformity to contractually required AS9100C, “Quality Management System,” statutory and regulatory requirements, DoD policies, and internal quality processes and procedures. F135 engines are procured by the Department of Defense from Pratt & Whitney for the F-35 Lightening II program.
Findings
A. Additional program management oversight is required by the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), as evidenced by the 61 nonconformities (violations of AS9100C, regulatory requirements and DoD policies) that we documented during our inspection.
B. The F-35 critical safety item (CSI) program did not meet DoD CSI requirements, including requirements for parts identification, critical characteristic identification, part determination methodology, and supplier identification.
C. (FUOU) The F-35 JPO did not establish F135 program quality goals and objectives that were mutually agreed upon by Pratt & Whitney for current contracts. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney metrics did not show improvement in quality assurance, process capability, and [REDACTED]
D. The F-35 JPO did not ensure that Pratt & Whitney proactively identified, elevated, tracked, and managed F135 program risks, in accordance with the F135 risk management plan.
E. The F-35 JPO did not ensure that Pratt & Whitney’s supplier selection criteria and management of underperforming suppliers were sufficient.
F. The F-35 JPO did not ensure that Pratt & Whitney demonstrated adequate software quality management practices. Pratt & Whitney had an outdated software development plan, requirements traceability issues, and a software quality assurance organization that did not perform required functions.
We inspected the F-35 engine (F135) program’s quality management system for conformity to contractually required AS9100C, “Quality Management System,” statutory and regulatory requirements, DoD policies, and internal quality processes and procedures. F135 engines are procured by the Department of Defense from Pratt & Whitney for the F-35 Lightening II program.
Findings
A. Additional program management oversight is required by the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), as evidenced by the 61 nonconformities (violations of AS9100C, regulatory requirements and DoD policies) that we documented during our inspection.
B. The F-35 critical safety item (CSI) program did not meet DoD CSI requirements, including requirements for parts identification, critical characteristic identification, part determination methodology, and supplier identification.
C. (FUOU) The F-35 JPO did not establish F135 program quality goals and objectives that were mutually agreed upon by Pratt & Whitney for current contracts. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney metrics did not show improvement in quality assurance, process capability, and [REDACTED]
D. The F-35 JPO did not ensure that Pratt & Whitney proactively identified, elevated, tracked, and managed F135 program risks, in accordance with the F135 risk management plan.
E. The F-35 JPO did not ensure that Pratt & Whitney’s supplier selection criteria and management of underperforming suppliers were sufficient.
F. The F-35 JPO did not ensure that Pratt & Whitney demonstrated adequate software quality management practices. Pratt & Whitney had an outdated software development plan, requirements traceability issues, and a software quality assurance organization that did not perform required functions.
All going well then. Just ask Gen. Bogdan, he'll tell you. Can someone say 'General Electric'?
Not even Spaz could have put a good spin on that report. Probably just discredit the Inspector General.
It really has surprised me just how bad things are.
And, yes, the program will go on. And, yes, IOC will be achieved - with certain adjustments - because many, big careers and lots of money are rising on it. And, no, no one is going to stick their head above the parapet.
Reminds me of "Yes, we'll accept the F2 into service with concrete in its nose. Only much, much bigger.
It really has surprised me just how bad things are.
And, yes, the program will go on. And, yes, IOC will be achieved - with certain adjustments - because many, big careers and lots of money are rising on it. And, no, no one is going to stick their head above the parapet.
Reminds me of "Yes, we'll accept the F2 into service with concrete in its nose. Only much, much bigger.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
GAO Report April 2015: F-35 JSF - Assessment Needed to Address Affordability Challenges
The decision was made at high levels in government, secretarial level, to put all eggs in one basket. Over a decade ago. That is part of why the inertia will not be overcome, as there isn't another option. Stuck with it, at least in the US. Other nations may have more flex in making a choice to opt out.