"15 3F software capabilities present unresolved deficiencies or are not ready for testing." One week from the certification of Initial Operational Capacity for the Air Force, Michael Gilmore, director of the Department of Defense for operational tests, drafted a new report on the real capabilities of the F-35 sent to the Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James, to General David Goldfein, chief staff service and Frank Kendall, responsible for the Pentagon acquisitions. What emerges is an absolutely different picture compared to that of the last few hours published by the military (v.articolo).
Gilmore writes: “The significant deficiencies detected during the texts made in the 2015, require precise modifications. In all three versions of the F-35, precautions are necessary to avoid inaccurate operation ”.
"The program is not geared towards success, but on a path that will not be able to guarantee the full capacity of the aircraft on schedule. The achievement of complete combat capability for the Joint Strike Fighter is at substantial risk. The current estimates for the reaching the final combat capability, they are not realistic ”.
It will be a problem that the next president and the secretary of defense will inherit. In fact, the next American administration will have to give the green light to large-scale production of the F-2019 in the 35, signing the most expensive program in the history of the United States with Lockheed Martin.
Gilmore continues: "The Air Force certified the 2 initial operating capacity last August, but most of the previously identified software limitations, data fusion, electronic warfare and weapons management continue. The program is running out of time and money to complete flight tests at estimated times and implement the necessary corrections and changes. Flight tests continue to make progress, but not at the pace we were hoping for. The more complex features of the software have added other problems that require corrections and tests. Problems that continue to reveal themselves at a remarkable pace ".
"F-35 in combat? Never alone "
"The F-35 deployed in the world next year? Only if supported by previous generation aircraft due to its lack of performance and its limited offensive capabilities. The F-35 could be used in combat, today, to provide support in identifying and avoiding modern threats and acquiring objectives ".
Joe Dellavedova, spokesman for the F-35 for the Department of Defense, replied dryly, stating that "there are absolutely no surprises in the memorandum, all the elements mentioned are well known and will be resolved".
(photo: US DoD)
