F-35 testing delayed...AGAIN!

Thanks to Stan for the link!

via Military.com

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will not complete its already-delayed formal operational test phase this fall because of a setback in the testing process, according to a source close to the program.

While the F-35 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) was supposed to be complete by late summer, a source with knowledge of its development said the testing is still incomplete due to an unfinished phase known as the Joint Simulation Environment.

The JSE simulations project characteristics such as weather, geography and range, allowing test pilots to prove the aircraft's "full capabilities against the full range of required threats and scenarios," according to a 2015 Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) report.

The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), in coordination with the Defense Department, confirmed that the Joint Simulation Environment testing phase is still being worked through, but could not provide a timeline for its completion.

Story here. 

No conspiracy theory, I'm just gonna ask you to use common sense.  They've been gearing up for this final hurdle for YEARS.

Suddenly the JSE simulations aren't ready to go?

Do you really believe that?

You're telling me this is a legit problem and they aren't tinkering with the simulation to assure the success of the airplane?

We don't have visibility so none of us can actually be sure what's going on, but no one can deny that this looks bad.  Bad for a program that has nothing but bad happening over and over and over again...