F-35 fleet grounded after engine crack found
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon on Friday grounded its fleet of F-35 fighter jets after discovering a cracked engine blade in one plane.
The problem was discovered during what the Pentagon called a routine inspection at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., of an F-35A, the Air Force version of the new plane.
The Navy and the Marine Corps are buying other versions of the F-35, which is to replace older fighters such as the Air Force F-16 and the Navy F/A-18.
All versions — a total of 51 planes — were grounded Friday pending an in-depth evaluation of the problem discovered at Edwards. None of the planes has been fielded for combat operations; all are undergoing testing.
Thirty-six of the stealthy warplanes are supposed to be based in Southern Nevada for what is called “beddown” at Nellis Air Force Base through 2020.
Nellis officials initially had expected the first four test-and-evaluation F-35s to arrive at the base last fall, but the date was pushed to sometime during the first three months of this year.
A Nellis spokeswoman said Friday they are hopeful the first four F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets will arrive for a ceremony at the base on March 19.
The Pentagon had anticipated spending $69 billion by the time F-35 flight testing ends in 2017, buying 365 aircraft, about 15 percent of the targeted total of 2,443. The first 63, however, exceeded their target cost by $1 billion, according to the Government Accountability Office.
The National Defense Authorization Act, which President Barack Obama signed at the end of 2011, included
$35 million in military construction funds for Nellis to build an F-35 communications network control center, ground equipment facility and engine shop.
Nellis has broken ground on a simulator complex that includes four F-35 simulators, renovated two hangars as part of an F-35 operations and maintenance complex and added F-35 accommodations to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron building.
Should they get under way, Nellis F-35 operations are expected to increase flights by roughly 20 percent and add more than 400 personnel to the base, which employs about 9,000 active-duty military personnel.
In a brief statement, the Pentagon said it is too early to know the full impact of the newly discovered problem.
The F-35 is the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons program at a total estimated cost of nearly $400 billion. While the Pentagon envisions buying more than 2,400 F-35s, some members of Congress are balking at the price tag.
Friday’s suspension of flight operations will remain in effect until an investigation of the problem’s root cause is determined.
The Pentagon said the engine in which the problem was discovered is being shipped to a Pratt & Whitney facility in Connecticut for more thorough evaluation.
Review-Journal writer Keith Rogers contributed to this report.
