Pentagon officials testified Wednesday that many goals for aircraft readiness next year are not tenable, as Congress questioned why overall readiness issues continue to plague the Navy.

During testimony at a joint hearing between the Senate Subcommittees on Sea Power and the Subcommittee for Readiness and Management Support, the Government Accountability Office's John Pendleton said that goals for 80 percent of aircraft being mission capable by next year, including the F-35, were untenable.

"That is the 80 percent question. We have to understand what mission capable means. That does not mean the aircraft can do all the missions that are assigned to it," Pendleton said.

"The F-35 last year, it typically had a 15 percent fully mission capable rate," Pendleton said.

He noted that depot level repairs and maintenance were six years behind. "I understand the rush to field the F-35 ... we feel that additional attention has to be paid to sustaining the F-35."

"It will take significant time to re-establish readiness in the ship, submarine and aircraft fleets," though he also said that he saw significant steps towards improvement.

Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller and Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. William Moran said at the hearing that readiness was in poor condition, though it was improving.

.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Navy orders two E-2D Advanced Hawkeye planes from Northrop Grumman
Washington (UPI) Dec 11, 2018
The Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems $49.9 million for parts and other services for production of two Lot 7 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye radar aircraft. Work on the planes is expected to be completed in December 2023, and has been funded with 2019 Navy procurement funds, the Department of Defense said on Monday. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the current variant of the land and carrier-based radar and command-and-control plane. It is designed to provide radar sensor coverage and coordina ... read more