Watchdog warns Pentagon to fix F-35 tech problems before full-rate production starts

Defense News:  The F-35 fighter jet is finally cruising toward the end of its development phase, but a congressional watchdog is warning the Defense Department not to move to full-rate production until it’s certain it’s resolved all critical technical issues.

The F-35 Joint Program Office intends to make a decision in October 2019 on whether to move to full-rate production, but had planned to defer certain critical technical deficiencies until after that time, the Government Accountability Office stated in a June 5 report.

That could make the program more expensive overall.

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