RT.com
26 Jan 2022, 23:42 GMT+10
The $14 billion software upgrade has led to ?critical warfighting deficiencies? in the jets, but is still being deployed
The Pentagon is continuing to install a fresh software upgrade on its F-35 fighter jets, even though the programming turned out to be riddled with flaws, Bloomberg reports, citing a military testing report soon to be published.
The fighter jet operators discovered deficiencies "in weapons, fusion, communications and navigation, cybersecurity and targeting processes," following the upgrade, the 13-page assessment viewed by the media says.
It adds that the software required further "modification and additional time and resources, which caused delays."
The Lockheed Martin jet is heavily reliant on onboard software that includes more than eight million lines of code. The upgrade "does not adhere to the published best practices" and had "consistently failed to deliver the capabilities contained in their master schedule," the assessment notes.
The upgrade was designed to provide the jets with new capabilities and increase their computing power and memory. It should have also allowed the fighters to carry new munition types, such as AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missiles, all-weather Small Diameter Bomb II munitions or radar-killing AARGM-ER missiles, and even the B-61 nuclear bomb.
However, the new processes "often introduced stability problems and/or adversely affected" other functions, as discovered by active-duty military units that frequently reported "critical warfighting deficiencies," the document said.
The report blamed the slew of issues on inadequate funding, which resulted in testing that was not comprehensive enough to ensure "unintentional deficiencies [were] not embedded in the software prior to delivery."
The cost of the upgrade has already amounted to $14 billion, according to Bloomberg.
The US Defense Department's F-35 program office has so far refused to comment on this information, saying it would issue comments once the report was officially published.
The F-35s, which were touted by arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin as one of the most advanced fighter jets ever developed, have been plagued by a string of technical issues and a series of developmental delays, cost overruns, and malfunctions.
Most recently, an F-35C Lightning II suffered a "landing mishap" during drills in the South China Sea. The incident saw seven US Navy personnel injured. In early January, South Korea grounded all the F-35 jets it bought from the US after a landing gear glitch forced a pilot to perform a risky crash landing near a military base in the country's west.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Beijing Bulletin news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Beijing Bulletin.
More InformationCUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA: Apple's ambitious foray into streaming is proving costly, with the company reportedly losing over US$1 billion...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Trump administration is asking companies and foreign governments to help...
Pete Hegseth is conducting a poll among the public about renaming the agency he heads as the Department of War US Defense Secretary...
Washington [US], March 22 (ANI): Apple has officially renewed its critically acclaimed thriller series 'Severance' for a third season,...
Washington DC [US], March 22 (ANI): US President Donald Trump announced the Pentagon's decision to proceed with the development of...
Washington DC [US], March 21 (ANI): Tech billionaire Elon Musk slammed the New York Times on Friday in a post on X, hours after US...
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA: Apple's ambitious foray into streaming is proving costly, with the company reportedly losing over US$1 billion...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Gold's record-breaking rally is expected to continue, with Citi Research increasing its three-month price...
BOSTON, Massachusetts: A routine safety mechanism at data centers nearly triggered a regional power crisis last summer, highlighting...
PARIS, France: Air France is making a bold bet on luxury travel with the launch of an upgraded first-class suite, aiming to attract...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. home construction and manufacturing activity surged in February, but rising costs from tariffs and economic...
NEW YORK, New York - Uncertainty continues to plague investors on Wall Street with Friday's trading being volatile and weak. The major...