DOD tester’s report: F-35 is still a lemon

Enlarge / A US Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter is displayed during the 53rd International Paris Air Show last year in its natural state: on the ground. A poor "mission capable" rate plagues the F-35, as well as cybersecurity vulnerabilities and a gun that won't shoot straight, according to an upcoming Pentagon report. (credit: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The latest report on the progress of the US Defense Department's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is due out soon from the Office of the Secretary of Defense's director for operational test and evaluation (DOT&E), Robert Behler.

Last year's report was full of bad news. And based on Bloomberg Government's Tony Capaccio's early access to the new report, we know much of that bad news is still bad news. In fact, the only real good news is that there are no new major flaws in the $428 billion aircraft program reported by Behler's team.

But the bad is still bad. For starters, the Air Force version of the F-35 can't hit what it shoots its gun at.

Read 10 remaining paragraphs | Comments