New Pentagon report cites cracks in F-35 test planes

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http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/01/30/5527930/new-pentagon-report-cites-cracks.html



New Pentagon report cites cracks in F-35 test planes
By Tony Capaccio
Bloomberg News
Posted Friday, Jan. 31, 2014

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jet developed more cracks during testing last year and wasn’t sufficiently reliable in training flights, according to an annual report from the Pentagon’s chief tester.

On-ground tests of the Air Force and Marine Corps versions of the fighter revealed “significant findings” of cracks on five occasions in fuselage bulkheads, flanges, stiffeners and engine mounts “that will require mitigation plans and may include redesigning parts and additional weight,” according to the report on major weapons released this week by Michael Gilmore, director of operational testing.

Gilmore has repeatedly raised questions about progress on the Fort Worth-based F-35 program, the most expensive U.S. weapons system, and cited cracks in the short-takeoff version of the fighter jet a year ago. This year’s report may draw particular scrutiny because the Pentagon will propose increasing purchases to 42 planes in fiscal 2015 from the 29 Congress authorized this year.

Michael Rein, a Lockheed spokesman, said in an emailed statement that Gilmore’s report also outlined “a tremendous amount of positive information” and said the findings highlighted known problems.