https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/us-watchdog-tells-congress-f-35-training-simulator-still-has-six-must-fix-problems-1108938918.html
US Watchdog Tells Congress F-35 Training Simulator Still Has Six ‘Must Fix’ Problems
US Watchdog Tells Congress F-35 Training Simulator Still Has Six ‘Must Fix’ Problems
Sputnik International
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Six "must fix" deficiencies remain in the training flight simulator for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter before the controversial aircraft... 29.03.2023, Sputnik International
2023-03-29T22:27+0000
2023-03-29T22:27+0000
2023-03-29T23:43+0000
military
lockheed martin f-35c joint strike fighter
f-35
us government accountability office (gao)
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"Our ongoing work indicates that the program made progress with fixing most of the remaining simulator issues over the last year, but six 'must fix' deficiencies remain and must be resolved," GAO Contracting and National Security Acquisitions Director Jon Ludwigson told a House Armed Services subcommittee in prepared testimony on Wednesday. The simulator must be fully developed before the Department of Defense can conduct tests to finally approve the F-35 for full-rate production 27 years after work on it began, Ludwigson said The F-35 program office continues to face delays in delivering Block 4 capabilities and added new, post-Block 4 efforts to enable the F-35 fleet to keep up with new threats and operational challenges, Ludwigson added.Congressman Rob Wittman during the same hearing expressed outrage over the lack of progress.US lawmakers also raised concerns that the US Air Force might be reducing its fleet of aging air superiority and ground support combat aircraft too drastically and too quickly.The US Air Force according to figures approved by the Biden administration and submitted in the Fiscal Year 2024 military budget, plans to divest itself of 881 aircraft including around 400 F-15Cs and A-10 tactical ground support aircraft and replace them with only 334 new piloted planes, Wittman noted.Representative Don Norcross said "we should receive reassurances [that] we are not retiring too much too soon."The US Air Force foresaw itself operating a total manned force of 1,000 to 1,100 piloted fighters but this estimate would change as the capabilities of a new generation of unmanned, remotely controlled Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) were assessed, US Air Force Deputy Chief for Plans and Programs Lieutenant General Richard Moore told the hearing.
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lockheed martin f-35c joint strike fighter, f-35, us government accountability office (gao)
lockheed martin f-35c joint strike fighter, f-35, us government accountability office (gao)
US Watchdog Tells Congress F-35 Training Simulator Still Has Six ‘Must Fix’ Problems
22:27 GMT 29.03.2023 (Updated: 23:43 GMT 29.03.2023) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Six "must fix" deficiencies remain in the training flight simulator for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter before the controversial aircraft, the most expensive procurement program in military history, at last becomes fully operational, a senior Government Accountability Office (GAO) official told Congress.
"Our ongoing work indicates that the program made progress with fixing most of the remaining simulator issues over the last year, but six 'must fix' deficiencies remain and must be resolved," GAO Contracting and National Security Acquisitions Director Jon Ludwigson told a House Armed Services subcommittee in prepared testimony on Wednesday.
The simulator must be fully developed before the Department of Defense can conduct tests to finally approve the F-35 for full-rate production 27 years after work on it began, Ludwigson said
"Once resolved, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation must accredit the simulator, verifying that the simulator accurately replicates real-world conditions. This will enable the Department of Defense to conduct the final tests, which are currently planned to begin in August 2023," he said.
The F-35 program office continues to face delays in delivering Block 4 capabilities and added new, post-Block 4 efforts to enable the F-35 fleet to keep up with new threats and operational challenges, Ludwigson added.
Congressman Rob Wittman during the same hearing expressed outrage over the lack of progress.
"The F-35 is only reaching full tactical capability in 2028, 27 years after the program began. That is unacceptable," Wittman said.
US lawmakers also raised concerns that the US Air Force might be reducing its fleet of aging air superiority and ground support combat aircraft too drastically and too quickly.
The US Air Force according to figures approved by the Biden administration and submitted in the Fiscal Year 2024 military budget, plans to divest itself of 881 aircraft including around 400 F-15Cs and A-10 tactical ground support aircraft and replace them with only 334 new piloted planes, Wittman noted.
Representative Don Norcross said "we should receive reassurances [that] we are not retiring too much too soon."
The US Air Force foresaw itself operating a total manned force of 1,000 to 1,100 piloted fighters but this estimate would change as the capabilities of a new generation of unmanned, remotely controlled Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) were assessed, US Air Force Deputy Chief for Plans and Programs Lieutenant General Richard Moore told the hearing.
