Defense Secretary Ash Carter warned on Tuesday that the Senate’s plan to split the Pentagon acquisition chief’s responsibilities into two jobs could have repercussions similar to those of the problem-plagued F-35 program.

“Separating research and engineering from manufacturing could introduce problems in the transition from the former to the latter, which is a frequent stumbling block for programs,” Carter said at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space Exposition outside Washington. “One need only remember Joint Strike Fighter’s growing pains in moving from engineering and manufacturing design and low-rate initial production.”