Officials defended the F-35 program on Wednesday despite its delays and cost overruns, saying that it’s a capability that will transform how the military operates and keep Americans safer.
The F-35 is the most expensive weapons program ever procured by the Pentagon, with estimated acquisition costs skyrocketing to $400 billion, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office released earlier this year.
But Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant for aviation, said that future generations will only care about the increased capabilities the planes will bring to the troops.
“At the end of the day, history books will not remember that the F-35 was a little bit late, that there’s maybe some dysfunction out there in the different zip codes in and around this town, all the history books will care about is were we … ready to go on game day. Yes or no, that’s all they’re going to care about,” he said in an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee acknowledged at the Aspen Security Forum last month in Colorado that the program has been plagued by problems, and will likely continue to face challenges with its software.
“It has taken us too long, it has cost us way more money than we ever imagined possible,” she said, according to a Business Insider report.
Still, Davis said the new platform will “change the battlefield” and give access to previously closed airspace.
“I think for our adversaries, it will be worrisome, but for us, should be a great source of comfort,” he said.
The Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 based in Yuma, Ariz., reached initial operating capability with their version of the F-35 late last month. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., commended the progress, but warned lawmakers to maintain strict oversight of the program.
“I remain concerned about the capability and reliability this aircraft,” he said in a statement. “We must learn the lessons of past failures to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and American aviators can safely and effectively perform their missions. We owe them nothing less.”
Davis said the future of the military will include platforms and people that can do more than just one mission. For example, he said the military recently converted a C-130J, a prop plane typically used for refueling and transport, to a Harvest Hawk, which is half mid-air refueler and half weapons platform.
“So I can pump gas and shoot — not at the same time, but in the same mission,” he said.
He also warned that he struggles with maintaining aircraft readiness across the Marine Corps, not just because of aging platforms or a lack of parts, but also because the service struggles to retain trained mechanics to perform upkeep and maintenance on the aircraft.
“We have way too many airplanes that we can’t employ the way we need to,” he said. “We are not where we need to be as a Marine Corps with aviation readiness.”
