Nov. 22: JSF Reckoning

The Pentagon's acquisition executive has set Nov. 22 as a day of reckoning for the Joint Strike Fighter program, according to a Defense Department official. On that day the Defense Acquisition Board will meet and hear from F-35 Program Executive Officer Vice Adm. David Venlet who will present the results of a wide number of initiatives directed by DOD acquisition executive Ashton Carter in June.

At this milestone review, Carter is expected to consider results of a technical baseline review, affordability initiatives -- for a program that in June the Pentagon estimated will cost $382 billion -- as well as an independent manufacturing review, reorganization and manning of the F-35 Joint Program Office, a revised risk management process, intelligence community support to the F-35 program, status of F-35 funding in DOD's FY-12 to FY-16 investment plan, and status of the flight test plan.