F-35 JPO, DOD creating options for more organic sustainment

摘要

As House lawmakers push the Defense Department to drive down the F-35's long-term sustainment costs, the head of the joint program office said this week the Defense Department is taking steps to secure more of the technical data rights that could create future options to shift toward a more government-managed, competitive approach to sustaining the Joint Strike Fighter enterprise. The House Armed Services Committee's version of the fiscal year 2022 defense authorization bill included a number of provisions aimed at reducing the cost to operate and maintain the F-35. One provision called for a briefing on sustainment cost-reduction efforts as well as details on "known barriers that must be overcome to facilitate a competitive sustainment environment." The bill also would direct a comptroller general review of the program's organic maintenance capability, calling for specifics on the technical data rights and unique tooling that would be required for the government to take more ownership of the enterprise and suggesting that a shift to a more organic repair capability could "play a large role in reducing sustainment costs."