Frank Kendall, the Pentagon’s acquisition, technology, and logistics chief, this week said the Marine Corps probably won’t be able to declare initial operational capability with the F-35 by the planned July 2015 date, reported Aviation Week. However, Program Executive Officer Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan said Thursday he hasn’t given up trying. “I read what Mr. Kendall said,” Bogdan told reporters in a press conference, and “he’s recognizing that there’s risk” in meeting the July 1 date. The big roadblocks, Bogdan said, are getting 10 identically configured aircraft to the Marine Corps on time, working off the flight test backlog caused by the June airplane fire, and getting mission data files—information in the computers regarding geographical, threat, and other information—fully “populated” before IOC. However, all this may still be done, and Bogdan won’t say die until just before midnight on June 30, he added. If there is a slip, however, Bogdan said it will be “weeks, not months,” and far, far better than when the program saw slippages of years. Bogdan said he’s “made a promise” to USMC and will do all he can to keep it. On the wall of his conference room is a sign that on Thursday read “Countdown to USMC IOC: 244 (days).”
New Air Force PT Uniforms to Hit Shelves in July
May 1, 2024
The Air Force’s new physical training uniforms have been a long time coming. The clothing set was first unveiled in 2021, with a promised 2022 debut. But supply chain issues delayed its arrival multiple times, according to the Air Force. But finally, Airmen are expected to be able to buy…