According to the DOD Buzz blog, “a source with access to Joint Strike Fighter officials” revealed that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has “hammered Heinz [Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Heinz] to say nothing more about” purported issues with Pratt & Whitney F135 engine production for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. As we reported earlier, the blog had quoted Heinz, the new JSF program executive officer, as saying P&W had F135 parts reliability problems. P&W responded that cost and production issues are not new at this stage of development. The debate continues over whether it’s advisable to pursue development of the alternate engine, the General Electric-Rolls Royce F-136. The Obama Administration does not want the second engine, but Congress has consistently refuted the Pentagon’s past attempts to kill it.
Due to the prolonged delay in deliveries of the Tech Refresh 3 version of the F-35 fighter, Denmark is pulling six of its TR-2-configured F-35 jets stationed in the U.S. back to home base in order to consolidate aircraft and get better training for its pilots and maintainers, the Danish…