Gen. William Fraser said he’s happy with the current status of the F-35 fighter. The Air Combat Command boss said Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference, “I’m encouraged by what I’m seeing in some of the … tests out at Edwards. … They are meeting the test points … and numbers of sorties.” He said all indicators are now “pointing in the right direction.” However, ACC will “continue to stay very engaged with joint program office” to make sure “we … have our voice heard” about the fighter’s progress and capabilities, added Fraser. The Air Force will fly the lion’s share of F-35s in the US, with some 1,763 of a planned 2,443.
USAF to Cut F-35 Buy in Future Years Defense Plan
May 14, 2021
The Air Force wants to scale back buys of the F-35 over the next five years, hoping to get sustainment costs down and to wait for the more capable Block 4 version, according to talking points prepared for Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. The reduced buy will…