F-35 test jets may not be ready for 2017 start of IOT&E

By Courtney Albon / February 3, 2016 at 10:26 AM
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's current aircraft modification plan predicts that none of the program's operational test aircraft will be upgraded to the Block 3F configuration in time for initial operational test and evaluation, according to the Pentagon's top weapons tester. The department's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation J. Michael Gilmore wrote in his annual report to Congress that the F-35 joint program office is working to speed up its time line for upgrading the test jets and may...

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