At the same time we hear the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will not be appearing at the Paris Air Show this summer it was also reported that there may be another 12 month delay and cost overruns in testing of the aircraft.

The situation of the F-35 scheduled to be a no show at the Paris Air Show this summer seems a bit strange as a defense official is saying they never got an invitation for the F-35 to attend but the organizing committee for the air show says they did send an invitation. It should be noted that France is not expected to purchase any F-35s.

In a report released Monday, the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said developmental testing on the aircraft “could take an additional 12 months,” delaying the program and increasing costs by $1.7 billion.

“Because of problems with the mission systems software, known as Block 3F, program officials optimistically estimate that the program will need an additional 5 months to complete developmental testing,” the GAO said. But based on the agency’s analysis of previous F-35 flight test data, “that developmental testing could take an additional 12 months.” – DoDBuzz

Curiously, The Pentagon’s Joint Program Office came out with a statement saying they disagreed with the Government Accountability Office and that there would not be an additional billion dollars plus needed to complete the Development and Demonstration phase.

So which report is correct?

Featured image of Capt. Brent Golden, 16th Weapons Squadron instructor, F-35A Lightning II at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 15, 2015 by Staff Sgt. Siuta B. Ika, US Air Force