JSF Cited for ‘Lack of Maturity’

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The Pentagon’s DOT&E report cites the Joint Strike Fighter program for a “lack of maturity,” according to Reuters. Inside Defense has the text of the segment (paywall). Bloomberg says the program has fallen short of its testing goals and that testing of the F-35B was halted last month after cracks were found in the plane. Time says the aircraft is now 25 percent more vulnerable to exploding in mid-air. Turkey has postponed its order of two F-35s, Defense News reports.

The Pentagon approves plans for a hiring freeze and furloughs, DoD Buzz reports. A federal union complains that the plans are biased toward contractors at the expense of federal workers, FCW reports. GOP lawmaker urges entitlement cuts to spare the Pentagon from sequestration, Defense News reports. Sequestration impacts could hit Fort Meade and the Naval Academy as well, according to Capital Gazette. Government Executive finds far fewer government employees planning to attend trade shows this year.

Defense News says Hagel’s Senate nomination could be more bluster than blockade.

Northrop Grumman is building its own company-funded demonstration model of the MQ-4C Triton, AIN reports.

FlightGlobal says Israeli test pilots describe the mid-stage of the MV-22’s transition from vertical to horizontal flight to be nerve-wracking: “You feel like you’re losing control of the plane.”

Kroll report speculates on “unexpected” cybersecurity issues (paywall) for 2013, Defense Daily reports.