GAO: F-35 engine ‘not performing at expected levels’

[unhappycamper]

http://ctmirror.org/2016/03/23/gao-f-35-engine-not-performing-at-expected-levels/



GAO: F-35 engine ‘not performing at expected levels’
By: Ana Radelat | March 23, 2016

Washington – Federal investigators said Wednesday that Pratt & Whitney's engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter still is "not performing at expected levels" and is one of many glitches still plaguing the nation’s next generation of fighters.

“While Pratt & Whitney has implemented a number of design changes that have resulted in significant reliability improvements, the F-35A and F-35B engines are still at about 55 percent and 63 percent, respectively, of where the program expected them to be at this point,” said the report by the Government Accountability Office.

The F-35A is the Air Force version of the plane, and the F-35B is the Marine Corps version, which is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings. There is also an F-35C Navy version designed for carrier operations.

Reacting to the GAO report, Pratt & Whitney spokesman Bradley N. Akubuiro said, “The F135 engine has accumulated over 50,000 engine flight hours, maintains an average fleet readiness metric of 95 percent and is already exceeding key year 2020 spec requirements in support of the F-35.”

[stopbush]

1. But wait. Bernie loves the F35.

Those federal investigators are just part of the political establishment that hates principled weapons systems.