Already plagued with cost overruns and delays, the ‘Mother of all’ Joint strike Fighter (JSF) development programme appears to be set for further delays totaling almost two years. The future stealth combat planes were to enter operational service in the US Air Force in 2013 but now plans may have to wait for as long as 2015, as revealed by the US Air Force Secretary Michael Donley earlier in the week. Known as the F-35 Lightning II, the JSF is the most expensive weapon system under development and promoted as the future of the US air fleet.

To redux, the aircraft is being developed in three versions - F-35A for the Air Force; F-35B for the US Marines and, the F-35C for US Navy carrier deck operations. It was not immediately clear whether delays in the F-35A programme would affect the US Marines And US Navy versions, which anticipate begin using the new planes by 2012 and 2015, respectively but the chances are that these programmes may also get adversely affected, albeit not to the same extent as the Air Force version.

An indignant US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, troubled by the recurring delays as he put it, fired last month, the two-star General leading the programme. He has also threatened to withhold the $614 million incentives from the contractor, Lockheed Martin. But, fully committed to the JSF, he is in the process of raising the bar by appointing a three-star General to head the programme. The US administration has already asked the Congress to approve $11.4 billion for the programme, over and above the $8.4 billion purchase price for the 43 planes charted for initial production.

Amidst a lot of political din and noise, while the US Senate in all likelihood may order a probe to examine the matter in detail, the airplane maker Lockheed Martin has remained tight-lipped saying in a statement that it was “fully committed to the F-35 programme” and that it was working toward stabilizing “cost and affordability - and to fielding the aircraft on time”. It remains to be seen however, whether the Company can deliver as per its promises.