Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Report: Lockheed still lagging on some F-35 targets Mon Nov. 14, 2011 By Staff & wire reports

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/11/14 ... gging.html

"Lockheed Martin is improving its performance building F-35 fighter jets but is still struggling to meet Pentagon targets for manufacturing efficiency and aircraft reliability, Bloomberg News reports....

...But the amount of time required to perform out-of-sequence work -- install parts that should have been accomplished earlier in the assembly process -- was 600 hours, 20 percent above the goal of 500 hours. Delayed completion of work is a major reason for rising costs, as aircraft often must be partially disassembled and then reassembled. Lockheed also has not met the government's target for time spent repairing faulty work.

The report also indicates that the reliability of F-35 test and early production aircraft is not meeting the desired targets....

...Lockheed spokeswoman Laurie Quincy, in an e-mail, said the aircraft "continues to make excellent overall progress, demonstrating an ongoing reduction of technical risk over time, as well as a methodical maturing of processes and systems --including a reduction in non-conformance hours when an assembly or part does not meet engineering requirements."

Congress, in the fiscal 2011 defense bill, required the Pentagon to set up annual milestones for measuring F-35 "design, manufacturing, testing and fielding."

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It would be nice if somehow this this report became public:

"The 15-page Oct. 28 report, signed by Frank Kendall, acting undersecretary of defense for acquisition, was sent to the four congressional defense committees. It wasn't released to the public. Bloomberg News obtained the report, which is a snapshot of progress through Aug.31 and isn't intended as the final annual report card."

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/11/14 ... z1dosy2LWi