Pentagon focused on resolving F-35 software issues

Reuters ^ | Reuters

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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."

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Last I knew it was over 8 MLOC.
That is alot.

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Very Interesting perspective

:)