DoD report: Value of F-35 student training is limited (DOCUMENT)

[unhappycamper]

http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/military/dod-report-value-of-f-35-student-training-is-limited-document-1.113176

DoD report: Value of F-35 student training is limited (DOCUMENT)
By LAUREN SAGE REINLIE / Northwest Florida Daily News
Published: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 12:35 PM.

A recent Defense Department analysis has reported that there is limited use to training students on the F-35 fighter jet because it is still in development and substantially limited in capability.

Student pilots officially began training at Eglin Air Force base this year.

The report provides a snapshot of what the military’s newest and most-expensive fighter jet is capable of — but mostly what it’s not — 12 years after work on the program began. It also points to several potential safety and procedural issues with the aircraft, including lack of radar capability and deficiencies in the oft-lauded and highly expensive helmet-mounted visual displays.

~snip~

The Defense Department’s Department of Testing and Evaluation had recommended the Air Force delay its evaluation of the training program until the F-35 possesses combat capability, the DoD report states. The Air Force went ahead with it and the Testing and Evaluation Department was tasked with reviewing its findings for its recent analysis, which was released in February.

It shows a snapshot of a program still in its infancy, only one-third of the way through development, the report states.



unhappycamper comment: And the report --> http://prod-admin1.halifax.atex.cniweb.net:8080/polopoly_fs/1.112293.1363386014!/menu/standard/file/17%20F-35.pdf