Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress Page: 8 of 17
This report is part of the collection entitled: Congressional Research Service Reports and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress
F-35 Lightning II
The F-35 Lightening II, also called the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), began in FY1994 as the Joint
Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program, which emerged after cancellations of the AFX and
MRF. The JSF program seeks to design, develop, and produce a family of affordable joint-service
fighter/attack planes, with conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft for the Air Force
and Navy and short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps and the
U.K. Royal Navy. In February 2004, Air Force leaders announced that the Air Force would also
procure some number of STOVL variants to improve its ability to prosecute the close air support
(CAS) mission and reduce reliance on access to forward bases.
The JSF is DOD's largest cooperative acquisition program. Eight foreign countries have pledged
funds to the JSF program.6 A number of other countries are being considered for either JSF
partnership or as purchasers.' Participation is related to the financial contributions to the program
by these governments, the British government being the major non-U.S. contributor of
development funds.
From 1997 to 2001, the program was in a competitive design phase involving prototypes built by
both Boeing and Lockheed Martin. On October 26, 2001, DOD announced that Lockheed Martin
won the competition, and would move on to the production phase. In May 2005, DOD approved a
plan to revamp the JSF program to account for developmental difficulties. The revised plan
entails stretching out development efforts 16 to 22 months, adding $11.7 billion in costs and
cutting the number of aircraft the Defense Department will buy. As now projected, some 2,456
JSFs would be procured. Low rate production was approved in 2008, and operational service is
scheduled for March 2012. The JSF program is currently estimated (December 2007) at $298
billion.8 In its FY2009 budget, DOD requested no funds for the JSF F-136 alternate engine
program, despite clear guidance from the 109th Congress that this program was to be pursued. The
F-136 was initiated by Congress in FY1996.9 (See CRS Report RL33390, Proposed Termination
of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F136 Alternate Engine, by Anthony Murch and Christopher
Bolkcom for more information on the F-136 issue.)
6 Australia, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Canada, Turkey, and United Kingdom.
7 Israel, Poland, Singapore.
8 See CRS Report RL30563, F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background, Status, and Issues, by
Christopher Bolkcom and Anthony Murch.
9 Those in Congress who initiated the alternate engine program hoped to create a competitive environment during JSF
production, in which engine manufacturers would compete against each other for business. This competition would
generate cost savings and improved engine reliability and performance. Supporters believe the Air Force was
successful in creating such an environment when it funded an alternate engine for the F-16 Falcon.Congressional Research Service
5
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress, report, December 17, 2008; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc810042/m1/8/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.