U.S. Senate Proposes to Disband F-35 Joint Program Office

Dave Majumdar

F-35, United States

Disbands F-35 Joint Program Office following the full rate production decision scheduled for April 2019

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) is proposing to disband the F-35 Joint Program Office in its version of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) once the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft reaches full-rate production in April 2019.

“Disbands F-35 Joint Program Office following the full rate production decision scheduled for April 2019 and devolves responsibilities to Departments of the Navy and the Air Force,” reads a U.S. Senate bill summary. “Despite aspirations for a joint aircraft, the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C are essentially three distinct aircraft, with significantly different missions and capability requirements. Devolving this program to the services will help ensure the proper alignment of responsibility and accountability the F-35 program needs and has too often lacked.”

The move is a shot across the Pentagon’s bow. The Defense Department had hoped to continue developing upgrades for the nearly $400 billion program without the usual oversight that would normally be required for such a pricey effort. The bill “requires [the] F-35 Follow-on Modernization program, which is estimated to cost more than $8 billion for the first block upgrade, to be treated as a separate major defense acquisition program (MDAP),” the summary reads. “Given the Department of Defense’s poor track record on upgrade programs like this one, a separate program will enable rigorous oversight by the Congress to protect taxpayers.”

The Senate also torpedoed the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to retire the A-10 Warthog until the F-35 completes its operational test phase—something the service has vigorously resisted. “Extends the prohibition on retirement of the A-10 until F-35 Joint Strike Fighter initial operational testing (IOT&E) and evaluation is completed,” the summary reads. “The NDAA also ensures the F-35 IOT&E includes comparison testing and detailed assessment of A-10 and F-35A abilities to conduct close air support, combat search and rescue, and airborne forward air controller missions.”