Unacceptable software performance could delay USMC F-35 IOC by over a year

The United States Marine Corps declaration of initial operating capability (IOC) scheduled for mid-2015 could be delayed by as much as 13 months reports Reuters.

One of the reasons stated is "unacceptable" performance of the aircraft's software according to a report by the Pentagon's chief weapon's tester, Michael Gilmore which was obtained by Reuters.

USMC IOC is already 5 years behind according to this schedule that is over 10 years old. Now? 6 years? 7? 8?  More? The current USMC program of record for F-35 buys is $51B.

"Initial results with the new increment of Block 2B software indicate deficiencies still exist in fusion, radar, electronic warfare, navigation, electro-optical target system, distributed aperture system, helmet-mounted display system, and datalink," the report said, noting the problems could delay efforts to complete Block 2B development and flight test.

The report cited projections that the 2B software would not be completed until November 2015, 13 months later than planned. This would delay release to the F-35 fleet until July 2016, a year after the Marines want to start using the jets.

It said there is also little margin for any weight growth, and the airplane's increased use of electrical systems makes it vulnerable to lightning and missile strikes.

Bogdan said extensive studies had showed the plane's radar-evading capabilities, advanced sensors, ability to fuse data, advanced countermeasures and electronic attack equipment greatly reduced the chance that it would be hit by enemy fire.

Program incompetence and failure to deliver what was promised have been the consistent performance behavior of the F-35 program. History is not on General Bogdan's side.

In other news, things are getting hot. Fortunately heat resistant landing pads will be common-place at any USMC "austere" airfield that is planned to be used by the Just So Failed.

To date, the Navy and USMC have not demonstrated how to change the F-35B's $27M engine aboard ship.

The USMC has also not provided a reasonable justification for tac-air STOVL jets.

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-Time's Battleland - 5 Part series on F-35 procurement - 2013 
-Summary of Air Power Australia F-35 points
-Aviation Week (ARES blog) F-35 posts (2007 to present)
-U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) F-35 reports
-F-35 JSF: Cold War Anachronism Without a Mission
-History of F-35 Production Cuts
-Looking at the three Japan contenders (maneuverability)
-How the Canadian DND misleads the public about the F-35
-Value of STOVL F-35B over-hyped
-Cuckoo in the nest--U.S. DOD DOT&E F-35 report is out
-6 Feb 2012 Letter from SASC to DOD boss Panetta questioning the decision to lift probation on the F-35B STOVL.
-USAFs F-35 procurement plan is not believable
-December 2011 Australia/Canada Brief
-F-35 Key Performance Perimeters (KPP) and Feb 2012 CRS report
-F-35 DOD Select Acquisition Report (SAR) FY2012
-Release of F-35 2012 test report card shows continued waste on a dud program
-Australian Defence answers serious F-35 project concerns with "so what?"
-Land of the Lost (production cut history update March 2013)
-Outgoing LM F-35 program boss admits to flawed weight assumptions (March 2013)
-A look at the F-35 program's astro-turfing
-F-35 and F-16 cost per flying hour
-Is this aircraft worth over $51B of USMC tac-air funding?
-Combat radius and altitude, A model
-F-35A, noise abatement and airfields and the USAF
-Deceptive marketing practice: F-35 blocks


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