Government watchdog: F-35 will take millions more, months longer than expected

The Government Accountability Office released a report on Monday warning the Department of Defense against funding further software updates for the already $400 billion F-35 program until the current software becomes operational.

The F-35 is already operational with the Air Force and Marine Corps, but it runs a limited version of its software, called the 3i block, which only provides 89% of the code required for full warfighting potency.

Meanwhile, as the US keeps buying the jets, Lockheed Martin, the F-35’s primary manufacturer, is scrambling to provide 100% of the code with their planned 3F update.

At a conference earlier this year, Lockheed Martin told Business Insider they hoped to have the updated software loaded into the factory and ready to go on new jets by the end of 2017, but the GAO found that claim unlikely.

“Program officials optimistically estimate that the program will need an additional five months to complete developmental testing,” the statement reads. But “according to best practices” and “credible estimates,” the GAO pegs that number at around 12 months.

And while F-35 program officials admit the delay will cost an additional $532 million, GAO cites $1.7 billion in cost overruns with “approximately $1.3 billion of which will be needed in fiscal year 2018.”

 

Read the whole story from Business Insider.

Featured image courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps