IG On JSF

The Defense Department's inspector general has released a report on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that calls the program office's oversight of Lockheed Martin inadequate.

The report focuses on quality assurance conformity to regulatory and contractual requirements needed for F-35 aircraft production.

"These issues may result in nonconforming hardware, less reliable aircraft, and increased cost," according to a Sept. 30 memorandum penned by Randolph Stone, deputy inspector general of policy and oversight, which accompanied the report.

Stone wrote the F-35 joint program office is implementing corrective actions and the IG will perform future assessments of the program.