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Air Force likely will not have its first unit of combat-ready F-35 strike fighters available until late in calendar year 2015, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley confirmed Tuesday. “We have been taking a closer look in the past month at the [initial operational capability date],” he told reporters during a breakfast meeting in Washington, D.C. He added, “I do think we are going to have a slip.” Prior to the F-35 program restructure announced in February, the Air Force was targeting Fiscal 2013 for having its first operational F-35 unit in place. But now, after beginning to delve into the details of the restructure, and when there will be enough F-35A airframes available, the aircraft’s Block 3 software is ready, and initial operational testing is completed, the two-year-plus delay is the “latest and best estimate” that the Air Force now has, he said. Continue
The Air Force cannot afford its three marquee air combat and mobility programs simultaneously, but should be given the resources to do so, Secretary Frank Kendall said.