Pentagon approves F-35 operational test readiness review

The F-35 joint program office confirmed Wednesday that Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord has approved the Joint Strike Fighter's operational test readiness review.

Vice Adm. Mat Winter, F-35 program executive officer, told reporters Oct. 1 the OTRR sets off a plan to begin operational testing in mid-November.

Winter said the program has delivered all of the requirements to start initial operational test and evaluation, including the delivery of the latest operational flight program and Block 3F mission data files and Block 3.0 of the Autonomic Logistics Information System, which it completed last weekend. Over the next two weeks, the program will complete an update to its full mission simulator software that will give testers the most recent simulation software.