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.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
