Posted on 04/01/2012 9:20:55 PM PDT by U-238
The Pentagon is focused on resolving complex software issues on the new Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jet, even as it struggles to drive down costs, a top Pentagon official said on Friday, noting that software failures could "bring us to our knees."
Air Force Major General John Thompson, the No. 2 official in charge of the huge multi-nation warplane development program, said the latest restructuring of the program had given officials enough resources and time to address future challenges.
"Both the hardware and the software issues that we're addressing are all within the realm of being resolved," Thompson told reporters on Friday, noting that Pentagon plans to postpone orders for 179 for five years would allow more time for development before production shifts into high gear in 2019.
He said the F-35 program office, the military services, and Lockheed were working together to reduce costs.
The Pentagon told lawmakers on Thursday that the projected cost to develop, build, operate and maintain the plane for 55 years rose by 8.6 percent to $1.51 trillion from $1.38 trillion in the latest Pentagon estimate.
Thompson said the program was also stepping up work on the 24 million lines of code needed to fly and operate the new warplane and associated ground-based equipment, such as simulators, Thompson said.
"The complexity there gives us pause," he said. "We know we can go fix the mechanical engineering issues associated with structural problems. We're very confident in that. But in terms of fusing together that many lines of code into actual warfighting capability, we realize that could bring us to our knees if it doesn't work."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
You must know by now that there is no computer software without bugs. Think about it next time you board that shiny Boeing aircraft!
Its always fixed.
“Its always fixed.”
No, it isn’t. Sometimes big software projects are so bad, they’re eventually abandoned, especially when the government is involved. See the FBI’s Virtual Case File software project that was so bad, they just gave up and abandoned it, after spending $170 million. Mega-software projects entail tremendous complexity and risk, and it doesn’t always pay off.
this will not be abandoned. all parties want to see a happy ending.
It does not look favorably on the manufacturer or the Pentagon to have their planes flying with problems. Remember, they are selling these planes to other nations.Its best to double check their work and get it right the first time.
BS
Pilots want their machine to be 100 percent condition.
Apparently you've never served in tactical aviation. Aircraft are rarely, if ever, at "100 percent". You might want to learn about up gripes and down gripes.
I agree. Microsoft is not a good choice. It looks like Lockheed doing the software
This is interesting:
“one of the largest and most complex” software development efforts in Pentagon history
Kelly Johnson rule should apply: “Be quick, be quiet, and be on time.”
From what I’ve read, the F-35 has over 10 million lines of code. By comparison, the software of the F-22, which was considered to be far beyond that of any other combat aircraft in the world, had only 5 million lines of code. The F/A-18 Super Hornet has about 1.5 million lines.
Could be MicroSoft.. it takes 24 million lines of code to run Microsoft Word. (sarc).
I guess those were tough to fly, but has always been my favorite to look at.
| /usr/local/src/f-35 # make clean |
I believe that particular aircraft is now a TARGET DRONE.
‘nuff said ;)
I would’ve thought he command to jettison all stores would be more complex. Go figure.
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