Global Defense Procurement And The F 35 Joint Strike Fighter

This book analyzes the development and evolution of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a multinational aircraft endeavor involving the U.S. and many of its allies. The author provides a historical overview of jet fighter aircraft, discussing the different generations of these planes and their technical characteristics, as well as an outline of emerging international geopolitical and security trends the F-35 may see combat in. By examining the role of defense industries, domestic politics, and governmental oversight of the Joint Strike Fighter in various countries, the author concludes that this aircraft will be deployed in most of these countries to replace their aging jet fighter fleets and combat potential military aggression from China, Russia, and other revisionist international powers.

Contents: (1) Intro.: Alternate Engine Program; (2) Background: The F-35 In Brief; Three Versions; Alternate Engine Program; Program Origin and Milestones; Procurement Quantities; Program Mgmt.; Internat. Participation; Cost and Funding; Mfg. Locations; Proposed FY 2010 Budget; Proposed Termination of Alternate Engine; (3) Issues for Congress: Alternate Engine Program; Summary of Arguments; Admin. Perspective; Studies on F-35 Alternate Engine; Recent Developments; Development Status and Readiness for Production; Admin. Perspective; Affordability and Projected Fighter Shortfalls; Implications for Industrial Base; (4) Legislative Activity for FY 2010; Summary of Quantities and Funding; FY 2010 Defense Author. Bill. Illus.

The largest procurement program in the Department of Defense (DOD), the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lightning II, is a strike fighter aircraft being procured in different versions for the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 Lightning II is intended to replace a variety of existing aircraft in the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, while providing the most supportable, technologically advanced, lethal, and survivable aircraft to date. The F-35 is DOD's most expensive weapon system. This book addresses F-35 program performance during 2012, including testing, technical risks, and software; manufacturing performance indicators, production results, and design changes; and acquisition and sustainment costs going forward. This book also addresses the extent to which DOD has developed an F-35 sustainment strategy and addressed potential risks related to affordability and operational readiness; and developed a reliable O&S cost estimate for the program's life cycle.

The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget requested about $10.4 billion in research and development and procurement funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. This would fund the procurement of 10 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and four F-35Cs for the Navy. The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget also proposed terminating the F-35 alternate engine program, which is intended to develop the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 engine as an alternative to the Pratt and Whitney F135 engine that currently powers the F-35. The Obama administration opposes further funding for the alternate engine program and has threatened to veto the FY2010 defense authorization or appropriation bill if either "would seriously disrupt" the F-35 program. The F-35 alternate engine program has emerged as a major item of debate on the FY2010 defense budget.

The largest procurement program in the Department of Defense (DOD), the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lightning II, is a new aircraft being procured in different versions for the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. Current DOD plans call for acquiring a total of 2,456 JSFs. Hundreds of additional F-35s are expected to be purchased by several U.S. allies, eight of which are cost-sharing partners in the program.

The largest procurement program in the Department of Defense (DOD), the F-35 Lightning II is a strike fighter aircraft being procured in different versions for the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. Current DOD plans call for acquiring a total of 2,456 F-35s. Allies are expected to purchase hundreds of additional F-35s, and eight nations are cost-sharing partners in the program with the United States. The F-35 promises significant advances in military capability. Like many high-technology programs before it, reaching that capability has put the program above its original budget and behind the planned schedule. The Administration's proposed FY2019 defense budget requested about $10.7 billion in procurement and R&D funding for the F-35 program. This would fund the procurement of 48 F-35As for the Air Force, 20 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, 9 F-35Cs for the Navy, and continuing development. FY2018 defense authorization act: The FY2018 defense authorization bill funded F-35 procurement at $9.9 billion for 90 aircraft (56 F-35As, 24 F-35Bs, and 10 F-35Cs, an increase of 20 aircraft and $2.4 billion from the Administration's request), plus $1.5 billion in advance procurement, the requested level. The conference report accompanying the bill included language authorizing economic order contracting for up to $661 million in parts for F-35s to be procured in fiscal years 2019 and 2020; limiting funds to be expended on F-35 follow-on modernization (Block 4 software) pending a previously-required report that contains the basic elements of an acquisition program baseline for that modernization, and; requiring the congressional defense committees be notified if Congress takes any action that would delay development of F-35 dual-capable aircraft (meaning those able to deliver nuclear weapons). FY2018 defense appropriations bill: The final omnibus budget bill funded F-35 procurement at $10.2 billion for 90 aircraft (56 F-35As, 24 F-35Bs, and 10 F-35Cs, an increase of 20 aircraft and $2.6 billion over the Administration's request), plus $1.5 billion in advance procurement, the requested level.

The largest procurement program in the Department of Defense (DOD), the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lightning II, is a strike fighter aircraft being procured in different versions for the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 Lightning II is intended to replace a variety of existing aircraft in the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, while providing the most supportable, technologically advanced, lethal, and survivable aircraft to date. The F-35 is DOD's most expensive weapon system. This book addresses F-35 program performance during 2012, including testing, technical risks, and software; manufacturing performance indicators, production results, and design changes; and acquisition and sustainment costs going forward. This book also addresses the extent to which DOD has developed an F-35 sustainment strategy and addressed potential risks related to affordability and operational readiness; and developed a reliable O&S cost estimate for the program's life cycle.

The F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is the Dept. of Defense¿s (DoD) most costly and ambitious aircraft acquisition, seeking to simultaneously develop and field three aircraft variants for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight international partners. The JSF is critical for recapitalizing tactical air forces and will require a long-term commitment to very large annual funding outlays. The current estimated investment is $382 billion to develop and procure 2,457 aircraft. This report discusses: (1) program cost and schedule changes and their implications on affordability; (2) progress made during 2010; (3) design and manufacturing maturity; and (4) test plans and progress. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.