(Solved): 1. F-35 Plagued with Software Issues The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a single-pilot, single-engine ...

1. F-35 Plagued with Software Issues The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a single-pilot, single-engine, combat jet with a precision, all-weather strike capability that uses a wide variety of air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons. It is designed as a stealth aircraft, with a top speed of Mach 1.6, radar-evading properties, and an array of sophisti- cated hardware and software systems. The F-35 is intended to replace several aging aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps. Numerous allies of the United States have also placed orders for the F-35 with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, which has partnered with several other aerospace companies to design and manufacture the fighter. There are three variants of the F-35—a conventional takeoff/anding aircraft, a short takeoffvertical landing aircraft, and a version designed specifically for use with aircraft carriers. The F-35 program is the most expensive weapons program in history, with each aircraft costing in the neighborhood of $100 million each. Despite its high profile and high cost, the F-35, which is sometimes referred to as a fifth- generation fighter, has been plagued by numerous software issues that impact its effectiveness as a state-of-the-art fighter aircraft: The software that controls the F-35's complex radar system keeps crashing, which means the radar often has to be rebooted in flight. The F-35's primary gun is a 25 mm rapid-fire cannon controlled by software that is behind schedule and may not be ready until years after the aircraft is scheduled to be deployed for action. The Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) is designed to support the F-35's operations through its mission planning functions as well as via automated 294 maintenance scheduling and parts ordering. It is an extremely complex system, with 24 million lines of computer code, and can take up 24 hours for the data from one F-35 to sync up with an ALIS ground computer. A major software update intended to fix the myriad of defects impacting the performance of ALIS was not ready for the F-35's scheduled deployment by the Air Force in 2016, and it is unclear if it will be ready in time for the Navy's 2018 deployment. A DoD commis- sioned study found that schedule slippage and functionality problems with ALIS could lead to $20-$100 billion in additional costs for the F-35 program. Each F-35 has radar, video cameras, infrared sensors, and passive electronic warfare receivers that locate targets and threats in the air and on the ground. One of the most advanced features of the F-35 is that its computer system is intended to merge the information from all these sensors to create enhanced situational awareness through a simple combined-sensor display of each target or threat. Furthermore, this single display is intended to be shared instantly with every other plane in the attack group to provide all pilots with a more accurate and complete view of the target and the surrounding threat environment. This would eliminate the need for time-consuming radio voice exchanges. However, test pilots have reported their F-35s are creating false multiple tracks when all of their sensors are turned on. For example, when a radar and an infrared sensor detect the same enemy plane, the two sensors display it on the pilot's helmet-mounted sight as two enemy planes. The Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program office has downplayed the severity of these issues, saying that it is aware of all the concerns and is currently working to address them. Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, the F-35's program executive officer, said in a statement, "While nearing completion, the F-35 is still in development and technical challenges are to be expected. The program has a proven track record of solving technical issues, and we're confident we'll continue to do so." According to Bogdan, "The F-35 Program has a dedicated effort underway to resolve or otherwise mitigate" all of the deficiencies raised in the October 2015 report by the director of operational test and evaluation for the U.S. Department of Defense. However, at a time when more testing is desperately needed, the F-35 program is losing testing personnel, with test centers experiencing a turnover rate of approximately 20 percent with recent departures not being replaced. On top of that, program managers have started lay- ing off maintenance staff, engineers, and analysts. The layoffs have triggered a cascading effect with remaining workers desperately searching for new employment before they are laid off. Critical Thinking Questions 1. Do research to learn the current status of the F-35 fighter program. Document your findings in a two- or three-paragraph summary. What do you think are the most serious of the remaining software problems impacting the F-35? 2. Some say that it is unethical to deploy the F-35 prior to resolving all software issues that limit its effectiveness in combat or that could put the pilot at risk. Others say that the F-35 is an emerging, evolving piece of technology and that only through observation of its perfor- mance in combat can its various features be refined and perfected. State your opinion on this issue, and explain why you feel this way. 3. What suggestions do you have to improve the development and testing of the software for the F-35 fighter program?