A Congressional Research Service analyst told Senators Tuesday that DOD’s decision to continue only with the F135 engine for the Joint Strike Fighter is “incomplete” and quoted Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who has said the issue was open for debate. CRS’s Christopher Bolkcom noted, though, that the Pentagon has not shared its analysis on the decision to terminate the alternate engine, the F136. Interestingly, hints keep appearing that the decision was in fact a budget drill. RAdm. Steven Enewold, current JSF program director told the Senate Armed Services airland subcommittee that the decision to terminate the second source was part of deliberations for the Quadrennial Defense Review, not one made by the program office.
Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said the service must improve its readiness in his first public remarks as Air Force Chief of Staff, made during a ceremony marking his ascension to the service’s top job Nov. 18.
