US Navy prepares next step of the F-35 Block 4 upgrade while GAO predicts acquisition delays
An F-35C Lightning II prepares to launch from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. (Photo: US Navy)
The US Navy published a pre-solicitation notice of intent for the third phase of the F-35 Reprogramming Verification & Validation System. Meanwhile, with a five-year delay in its schedule, GAO foresees more postponements in the completion of the Block 4 effort.
While the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report estimating additional delays in the acquisition of the F-35 fighter, the US Navy (USN) is working on the next stage of the electronic warfare (EW) improvements of the Block 4 jets.
The service issued a pre-solicitation notice of intent last week for the Reprogramming Verification & Validation System (RVVS) Phase 3 of the F-35 programme, which will cover the purchase of long-lead hardware.
According to the notice, the F-35 Joint Programme Office (JPO) intends to negotiate a new contract with Lockheed Martin, which “will execute hardware design, conduct required design
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