There’s a New Sheriff in JSF Town

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Maj. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, the new head of the Joint Strike Fighter office, smacks the program with some stern “straight talk,” according to AOL Defense. Aviation Week quotes Maj. Gen. Bogdan as saying that the Pentagon has a bad relationship with Lockheed Martin and notes that the “new Sheriff ain’t happy.” Defense News quotes Maj. Gen. Bogdan complaining about the length of time to negotiate contracts. DoD Buzz quotes his vague threat to axe anyone with “baggage” who is holding up the program. FlightGlobal notes his concerns about the amount of software in the program. Reuters reports that the Air Force will no longer be pumping infusions of cash in to Lockheed for F-35 cost overruns.

F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

The Hill reports former Pentagon officials calling on Congress to act like adults on the sequestration issue and notes that the Pentagon is still publicly refusing to consider sequestration in budget deliberations.

Boeing’s new Super Hornet digital displays sure are purdy, according to Defense Tech.

NAVAIR contracts: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. gets $13.7 million more to provide integrated logistics services and publications in support of the Brazilian S-70B Anti-Submarine Warfare/Anti-Surface Warfare Aircraft Program under the Foreign Military Sales Program, and Insitu Inc. gets $7.7 million more for pre- and post-deployment operations and services in support of the ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Lack of money for shipbuilding in Congress’ continuing resolution could put carrier construction progress at risk, according to Defense News.

Wired suggests that China’s new stealth fighter’s twin nose wheels indicate that it’s headed for an aircraft carrier.