We now have a transcript of Air Combat Command chief Gen. Mike Hostage’s remarks at an AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast earlier on July 29. In his remarkably candid, hour-plus comments and answers to questions, he covered the gamut of ACC issues, including today’s precarious readiness, the A-10 divestiture, the F-35 engine issue, USAF’s electronic warfare capabilities and stealth, integration of cyber forces, prospects for Syria, and sixth generation air superiority. “I’m going to tell you what I think,” Hostage said, because his successor has been confirmed and “there’s not much they can do to me.” You can read it here.
It'll take up to 18 months for Lockheed Martin to deliver the 100 or so F-35s that went directly from production line to storage, awaiting the completion of Tech Refresh 3 testing. Customers haven't complained about the order in which the backlog is being delivered.