The estimated cost of the F-35 strike fighter program has grown by some $17 billion from $379 billion to $396 billion, according to the Pentagon’s latest reporting figures provided to Congress. According to the newly released selected acquisition reports, which reflect the period through December 2011, F-35 aircraft costs have increased by some $10.7 billion to $332 billion compared to the previous SARs that ran through December 2010. Among the reasons for the cost hike were the impacts of slowing the ramp-up of aircraft production, state the SARs. For example, the Air Force has extended its 1,763-aircraft production run by two years out to 2037, they state. F-35 engine costs went up by roughly $5.6 billion to $63.9 billion through December 2011, state the SARs. That was primarily due to an increase in initial engine spares and the cost impacts of the slower production ramp-up, they state. (See also SARs table.)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.