Pentagon weapons tester slams F-35B’s shipboard operational testing trial

The F-35B carried out its first and only shipboard operational testing trial aboard USS Wasp from May 18-25. The Pentagon’s top weapons tester later said the test was so flawed that it “did not — and could not — demonstrate that the … F-35B is operationally effective or suitable for use in any type of limited combat operation.”

US Navy 111003-N-ZZ999-005 An F-35B Lightning II makes the first vertical landing on a flight deck at sea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS W
By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Seaman Natasha R. Chalk [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Project on Government Oversight obtained the memo written by J. Michael Gilmore, Director of the Operational Test and Evaluation Directorate, via the Freedom of Information Act recently.

Gilmore complained that during the demonstration, the jet could barely achieve a 50 percent readiness level. A readiness rate of 80 percent is required in order to satisfy conditions for combat operations.

Missile launch warning systems and other key mission systems were also absent on the jets deployed for the trails.

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One thought on “Pentagon weapons tester slams F-35B’s shipboard operational testing trial

  1. The F-35, with three variants of common capability according to its manufacturer, is \”combat capable\” for one service but not for the other two, nor for the chief tester. –Take it back, Marines.

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