Read the Joint Strike Fighter DOT&E Report for Yourself

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the Internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Leader’s owners or staff.

The DOT&E report for the Joint Strike Fighter has been released to the public, and it’s full of interesting information. The F-35 Lightning II is vulnerable to, well, lightning, according to the Navy Times. Live fire tests show that the aircraft is more vulnerable to light anti-aircraft fire (paywall), Inside Defense reports. The Pentagon is getting concerned about the fighter’s late software deliveries as well as the Costs Per Flying Hour, Aviation Week reports. FlightGlobal says the Pentagon is lowering the performance bar for the aircraft, especially the F-35C.

If Congress kicks out another continuing resolution in March the Navy will be $4 billion short in its operating budget, according to Defense News. If the government does nothing and defaults, Obama says federal workers won’t get paychecks, according to Government Executive.

The Navy’s T-45 fleet almost ran out of engine blades.

Boeing cuts nearly half the jobs at its El Paso, Texas electronics factory, according to El Paso Times.

The Chinese may have their own version of the Global Hawk, Defense News reports.