Pentagon Testing Office Calls Foul on F-35B 'Operational Test' by Mandy Smithberger & Dan Grazier, Center for Defense Information via Real Clear Defense
The Marine Corps triumphantly declared its variant of the F-35 combat ready in late July. In the public relations build-up, the recent demonstration of its performance on the USS Wasp was heralded as a rebuttal to the program’s critics. But a complete copy of a recent memo from the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E)—obtained by the Project On Government Oversight through the Freedom of Information Act—reveals that a number of maintenance and reliability problems “are likely to present significant near-term challenges for the Marine Corps.”
The Marine Corps named this demonstration “Operational Test One,” but it turns out it wasn’t actually an operational test, “in either a formal or an informal sense of the term.” To count as an operational test, conditions should closely match realistic combat conditions. But DOT&E found the demonstration “did not—and could not—demonstrate that Block 2B F-35B is operationally effective or suitable for use in any type of limited combat operation, or that it was ready for real-world operational deployments, given the way the event was structured.” …
Comments
I have no quibble with your comments, and as you note, the F-35 issues are typical for a new combat aircraft, specifically for the Corps' more complicated V/STOL variant.
However, during testing there were Lockheed maintenance tech reps aboard that were leaned on heavily by a Naval aviation community not yet trained-up itself as combat maintenance ready on the F35 . . . But that will come in time, although in my view fudges the test results a bit.
A side bar note between you and me: the F35's engine may be too powerful for the frame? Unfortunately, beefing up the structure would have crossed the design weight threshold and a compromise configuration that likely met weight limits occurred, but, also needs more intensive maintenance on an airframe that cost overruns have become a political issue, fraught with emotion.
POGO loves to bash the F-35. You see them and other critics constantly refer to lack of this-or-that final capability not ready until a number of years from now, with the latest being possibly 2022 but most typically being in the 2016-2019 range. What this ignores is how long it would take for any new start aircraft to be developed and fielded—that also would have numerous problems, high costs, and multiple delays. Every new aircraft has problems.
Keep in mind that the F-35B is the most complex of all the versions. The Marines are hard "Corps" which probably explains their early IOC. They also have old aircraft they must replace and don't need press naysayers leading to F-35B cancellation. The first F/A-18A came off the line in 1978. The F-35B replaces both it and the Harrier which has a history of crashes. I recall watching the series “Carrier” nearly a decade ago and Marine F/A-18s were having all kinds of maintenance problems. I imagine the Harrier, like every other aircraft, has its share of hangar queens, as well. A big deal was made of a 50% readiness rate for the tested aircraft which frankly pretty much characterized the early AH-64A and many other aircraft that nevertheless performed extremely well in combat then and evolved to the superb AH-64E of today.
You can’t evolve an F/A-18A/D or Harrier anymore in the face of modern radar air defense and air-to-air missiles. Neither aircraft could attack or survive in the vicinity of modern air defenses. Unfortunately, our own radar Patriot missiles were mistakenly launched against an older F/A-18 in OIF and the pilot died in a crash avoiding them according to Wikipedia. The F-35, even today’s early F-35B, could survive and take out modern radar air defenses. The bashing needs to be taken with a grain of salt. The current F-16 and A-10 cannot fly forever and threats don’t stand still.
As for the DOT&E test criteria, keep in mind that they flunked the original Predator remotely piloted aircraft. Enough said. This was an initial operational capability test. Yet I suspect these pilots could take these F-35Bs to Syria within a week’s warning and fly worry free in the presence of Syrian air defenses and Russian jets. Given that option or older Harrier or older F/A-18D, I suspect we know which Marine pilots would prefer if facing a Su-35 or SA-22.