F-35 full-rate production could slip, says DoD

Full-rate production of the F-35 Lightning II faces a delay until 2021, following a decision by the DoD to postpone essential simulation tests until then.

Meanwhile, F-35 low-rate initial production will continue ‘in line with congressional authorisation and appropriation’, said Jessica Maxwell, a spokeswoman for Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

F-35 simulation tests were due to take place in December 2020 but this is not the first time they have been pushed back, as they were originally scheduled for 2017.

F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin acknowledged in July 2020 that an annual target of 141 deliveries could slip by as many as 24 units due to COVID-19 issues and suppliers being unable to maintain timely deliveries.

According to Shephard Defence Insight, the USAF plans to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048; and the USN aims to buy 115 F-35B STOVL variants between FY2026 and FY2031 plus 130 F-35C carrier variants between FY2026 and FY2030.

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