Lockheed F-35 Quality Failings Cited by Inspector General

[unhappycamper]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-25/lockheed-f-35-quality-failings-cited-by-inspector-general.html

Lockheed F-35 Quality Failings Cited by Inspector General
By Tony Capaccio - Sep 25, 2013 12:21 PM ET

The Pentagon’s inspector general has flagged hundreds of deficiencies and corrective actions needed for Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)’s F-35 fighter, the military’s costliest program.

The watchdog office’s “quality assessment” outlines what it calls ineffective management by Pentagon oversight personnel and insufficient attention to quality assurance in the design and manufacturing phases of the $391.2 billion F-35 program, according to a summary obtained by Bloomberg News. The full report may be issued as soon as Sept. 30.

Since May 2012, the inspector general has been reviewing adherence to quality assurance standards by Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed and five subcontractors: Northrop Grumman Corp., BAE Systems Plc, L-3 Communications Holdings Inc., Honeywell International Inc. and United Technologies Corp.

The inspector general’s audit said the F-35 program office should modify its contracts to “include a quality escape clause, to ensure the government does not pay for nonconforming product,” according to the summary.



unhappycamper comment: Too bad these things don't come with a warranty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implied_warranty