DLA, TRANSCOM to manage F-35 global transportation, distribution networks

The Defense Department has assigned the Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Transportation Command as responsible for the F-35 global transportation and distribution networks, along with North American regional warehousing, according to an F-35 Joint Program Office statement issued today.

"This assignment is the next in the series of assignments that have previously designated airframe, propulsion and component repair maintenance, repair, overhaul [and] upkeep providers across the F-35 Global Support Solution's three region construct," the statement reads.

Those three regions include North America, the Pacific and Europe.

"This assignment is an enabler of the F-35 global sustainment strategy and will facilitate the movement of materiel around the world, through a single integrator," the statement continues.

The transition for DLA and TRANSCOM to take over managing the networks is expected to take between 12 and 24 months.