Will there be an F-35 program? Yes, according to the Defense Secretary. Just not so fast. “The department remains committed to the JSF program of record,” said Leon Panetta in a briefing to the press on January 26. “But in this budget, what we’ve done is slowed the procurement to be able to complete more testing and allow for developmental changes before we buy in significant quantities. We want to make sure before we go into full production that we are ready.” (Full Text of Budget Decisions.) The Pentagon will propose spending about $9.2 billion to buy 29 F-35 jets in FY 2013, which is 13 fewer than planned, according to Bloomberg. The same article reports, “Beyond the next budget year, the Pentagon’s previous plan to purchase 62 F-35s in fiscal 2014 is being reduced to 29, according to budget data. The request for 2015 is dropping to 44 from 81, and the planned purchase for 2016 will decline to 61 from 108.”

The basic structure of the program—a conventional plane for the Air Force, a carrier version for the Navy, and a short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) version for the Marines—remains in the plan. In particular, Panetta is reported to remain committed to the STOVL as related an AP story in the wake of reports that the STOVL experienced technical difficulties. According to Lockheed Martin, the first two production models of the F-35B STOVL aircraft were delivered to the Marine Corps on January 11, 2012.

The AP article also notes the cost growth of the program. “Ten years in, the total F-35 program cost has jumped from $233 billion to an estimated $385 billion. And, recent estimates say, the entire program could exceed $1 trillion over 50 years.”

According to the prime contractor for the F-35, Lockheed Martin, global participation is a centerpiece of the program and essential for its success and affordability through economies of scale. The program is comprised of nine partner nations: the US, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway. The UK and Netherlands have ordered test aircraft, and Italy and Australia have committed long-lead funding for their initial operational aircraft.

Lockheed Martin also says Israel has selected the F-35A as its next generation fighter and is scheduled to receive the F-35 through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales process. Japan has also, according to the defense contractor, chosen the aircraft as Japan Air Self Defense Force’s next generation fighter aircraft. The award win resulted from the F-X competitive bid process.

In addition, Pratt and Whitney reports that the Defense Department has awarded it an undefinitized contract award (UCA) not to exceed $1,122,306,649 for F135 production engines to power the F-35. Pratt & Whitney and the DoD have reached a tentative agreement on key terms for the low-rate initial production (LRIP) 5 contract which contains fixed-price and cost-plus incentive fee elements. A total of $358,597,078 is being obligated at time of award, in addition to the $138,800,000 obligated in 2011 for advanced acquisition materials.

Avcorp says in a recent release that it has delivered the first outboard wing production unit for the fighter. Avcorp is currently the single source for this critical assembly. The outboard wing is the foldable portion of the wing on the carrier version of the F-35. It allows for easier handling and storage of the aircraft on carriers decks and hangers, while keeping its long-range and low-landing speed flight characteristics. The Outboard Wing will be fitted onto the first production standard F-35 carrier version, according to the company.

Source
DoD