F-35 Seems To Have Been An Individual Problem, Kendall Says

摘要

A June 23 fire aboard a conventional-variant F-35 Joint Strike Fighter seems to have been caused by an individual issue and is not a systemic flaw, according to the Defense Department's top acquisition officer. Speaking at a July 10 House Armed Services Committee hearing, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall said he did not want to get ahead of the Air Force Safety Investigation Board but that the fire seemed to be relegated to the individual plane's engine. "We haven't made any determination yet and we haven't found a specific root cause," Kendall said after the hearing. "This is very preliminary, but based on what we know right now this is a 'one-of some kind." However, lawmakers are still skeptical about the status of the F-35.