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Deliveries of the jet were halted after the crash of an F-35B in December. Even as a root cause has yet to be identified, the F-35 Joint Program Office said acceptances resumed after implementing mitigation efforts for one identified engine issue.
The U.S. has a deal for three more years of F-35 production but will face continued challenges with international sales and technical upgrades.
Fighter engines are incredibly complex machines. We may think of them as things that merely produce thrust, but every engine is born with indelible traits and functions that culminate in the success of the fighter it powers. Thrust is at the top of the list, but an engine’s appetite for fuel, its ability to provide cooling and electrical power for system components and its durability establish the paradigms of performance for the weapons system.
As the military decides between upgrading what it’s got and starting fresh, the Heritage Foundation’s John “JV” Venable argues the more expensive option now will save in the long run.