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Stand by the F-35

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said he’s sure there will be some “surprises” in the F-35 flight test program, but overall, he feels it’s safe to bet on the program’s success. “We’ve invested billions in risk reduction” on the F-35, Schwartz said. He continued, saying things always pop up in flight test, but he asked rhetorically: “Will there be something that puts the whole program in jeopardy? I don’t think so.” Many lessons were learned from the F-22, Schwartz said, and these have been vigorously applied to the F-35. Software was a huge pacing factor on the F-22, for example, but it’s being managed well on the F-35, removing a major element of risk. (Also see Eglin to Begin Initial F-35 Training, Production to Ramp Up)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org