Bombshell report finds some F35 fighter jets will only fly for a QUARTER of their expected life because of 'major structural issues'
Pentagon test report says plane will fly for just 2,100 flight hours, 'well under' the expected service life of 8,000 hours
The plane has been hit by a huge list of issues, and is over a decade late
Final cost estimates for the US military alone are expected to reach $1.5 trillion
Also being tested by forces around the globe, including UK Royal Air Force
A Pentagon report is warning that the U.S. Marine Corps' oldest F-35B Joint Strike Fighters could remain airworthy for just over a quarter of their expected lifespan due to 'serious structural problems'.
According to Bloomberg one early version of the jet, known as 'early block F' and bought by the Marine Corps, could fly for just 2,100 flight hours, which the report says is 'well under' the expected service life of 8,000 hours.
The plane has been hit by a huge list of issues, and is over a decade late, with final cost estimates for the US military expected to reach $1.5 trillion.
It is being tested by military forces around the globe, with the Royal Air Force already having taken delivery of its test planes, known as the Lightning.
Although the structural issues are believed to affect only a small number of planes, the Pentagon test office 2018 annual report obtained by Bloomberg also found a huge host of flaws in all versions of the fighter, ranging from cybersecurity issues to 'unacceptable' problems with the accuracy of guns fitted to the Air Force's A version of the plan
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6658797/US-F35-fighter-jets-fly-QUARTER-expected-life-structural-issues.html
Stagnant F-35 Reliability Means Fewer Available Jets: Pentagon
(Bloomberg) — Durability testing data indicates service-life of initial F-35B short-takeoff-vertical landing jets bought by Marine Corps “is well under” expected service life of 8,000 fleet hours; “may be as low as 2,100″ hours Pentagon test office says in 2018 annual report obtained by Bloomberg that’s scheduled for release this week. That means some jets expected to start hitting service life limit in 2026.
Furthermore, there’s no “improving trend in” aircraft availability to fly training or combat missions as it’s remained “flat” over the past 3 years. Details come a day after Defense Sec. Pat Shanahan told reporters the F-35 “has a lot of opportunity for more performance.”
Interim reliability and field maintenance metrics to meeting planned 80% goal not being met, test office director Robert Behler says in new assessment as improvements “are still not translating into improved availability”
Current fleet performance “well below” that benchmark
Cybersecurity testing of aircraft in 2018 showed some previous vulnerabilities “still have not been remedied,” assessment says
Amount of time needed to repair aircraft and return to flying status “has changed little” in last yr; remains “higher than” rate needed to indicate progress as aircraft fleet numbers and flying hours increase, assessment says
Computerized maintenance tool known as “ALIS” doesn’t “yet perform as intended,” as some data and functions deficiencies “have a significant effect on aircraft availability” and launching flights
Maintenance personnel, pilots “must deal w pervasive problems w data integrity, completeness on a daily basis,” tester says
Testing through September of Air Force model gun intended for air-to-ground attack indicates accuracy “unacceptable,” DoD tester says
NOTE: F-35 last month entered one-yr of intense combat testing to determine overall effectiveness to support full-rate production decision in late 2019
NOTE: Lockheed officials told analysts yesterday they expect F-35 output to grow to over 160 aircraft by 2021; company achieved 91-plane delivery target in 2018; intends to reach at least 130 this year
https://about.bgov.com/news/stagnant-f-35-reliability-means-fewer-available-jets-pentagon/