Bogdan wants to start F-35 Operational Testing early

Lt Gen Christopher Bogdan, head of the JPO, has asked the directorate of operational test and evaluation to begin operational testing, even though they won't have the requisite 23 aircraft with Block 3F software. He wants to start testing with the 18 aircraft they'll have, and add the other 5 as they become available.

Bogdan testified that every month they delay, it costs $30M. If they start early, then they can retrofit any issues found quicker.

fightersweep.com...

Why 30mil a Month? If they are just sitting there then they should cost nothing.

After the software up date that is

a reply to: penroc3

Because there are delay penalties and bonuses written into the contract.

If it doesn't compromise the development, or safety, go for it.

Is it 30 mil per aircraft per month, or just the program. One is a whole lotta money, the other is just a lot of money.

Makes sense, it's just more concurrency in the testing

a reply to: seagull

For the program. If it was per aircraft, whoever wrote the contract should be shot.