By: iPadfanzz staff on February 23, 2013
In a surprising move, the U.S. Department of Defense has suspended airborne testing of its Joint Strike Fighter after a routine inspection revealed a crack in an engine turbine blade.
In a statement the Pentagon said it was too early to assess the impact on the fleet of jets designed for use by the Navy, Air Force and Marines.
The grounding includes every one of the three versions of the F-35 involved in the $396 billion program. The fighter jets included in the program have been described as "the most affordable, lethal, supportable, and survivable aircraft ever to be used" and is one of Pentagon's most expensive weapons system yet.
The Pentagon said the blade has been sent to Pratt & Whitney’s Engine Facility in Connecticut for further tests, but until the process is finished, all F-35s will remain grounded to determine the exact cause of crack.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in December that the Joint Strike Fighter will see its first overseas deployment in 2017, to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan.
In a surprising move, the U.S. Department of Defense has suspended airborne testing of its Joint Strike Fighter after a routine inspection revealed a crack in an engine turbine blade.
In a statement the Pentagon said it was too early to assess the impact on the fleet of jets designed for use by the Navy, Air Force and Marines.
The grounding includes every one of the three versions of the F-35 involved in the $396 billion program. The fighter jets included in the program have been described as "the most affordable, lethal, supportable, and survivable aircraft ever to be used" and is one of Pentagon's most expensive weapons system yet.
The Pentagon said the blade has been sent to Pratt & Whitney’s Engine Facility in Connecticut for further tests, but until the process is finished, all F-35s will remain grounded to determine the exact cause of crack.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in December that the Joint Strike Fighter will see its first overseas deployment in 2017, to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan.
