General Electric-Rolls Royce issued a statement shortly after the hearing refuting Gates’ comments (see: Gates Questions F136 Performance, above). “The Secretary’s comments contradict the detailed assessment from the Department of Defense, which has consistently awarded very good and excellent ratings to the F136,” reads an excerpt. The Pentagon wants to ax the F136 in favor of Pratt & Whitney’s F135 as the sole powerplant for the F-35, but the F136 program continues to enjoy strong support on Capitol Hill. (GE-Rolls Royce statement)
The command center that has run America’s air campaigns in the Middle East for over two decades took a direct hit during the U.S. war with Iran and was severely damaged, a senior U.S. official and other people informed about the attack told Air & Space Forces Magazine.