JSF Industry Day

InsideDefense.com reported earlier this month that the Pentagon in November will begin publicly exploring ways to open up select portions of the Joint Strike Fighter program to competition, which could create opportunities for other defense contractors to grab a small slice of the estimated $1.1 trillion cost to sustain the new fighter fleet:

On Nov. 14th and 15th, the F-35 joint program office will host an industry event "to identify potential business sources, capabilities, and experience to successfully deliver a wide range of hardware and infrastructure services in support for F-35 JPO sustainment," the Pentagon announced in a Sept. 28 notice published in Federal Business Opportunities.

The Pentagon is eying four areas for potential competition: supply chain management, the Autonomic Logistics Information System, training systems, and support equipment, according to the notice. Lockheed Martin is the F-35 program's prime contractor.

"The results of this industry day will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process," it adds.

The Defense Department is concerned about the F-35's sustainment costs, which are projected to be significantly higher than those of the legacy aircraft they will replace. For nearly two years, the F-35 program office has looked for ways to pare back the projected operations and sustainment bill, which earlier this year the Pentagon projected in an acquisition report will be $1.1 trillion through the 2060s.

Also, the move to consider opening some of the F-35 program to competition is part of the Defense Department's efforts to bring the Joint Strike Fighter program in compliance with provisions of the 2009 Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act that calls on the Pentagon to find ways to ensure competition throughout a weapon's life-cycle.

View the presentation slides that will be used during the industry day.

View the full Oct. 1 story.