
Despite feeling “pretty good,” overall about the Air Force successfully reaching its August 2016 initial operational capability (IOC) deadline for the F-35A, the head of the F-35 program is discouraged that an improper level of experienced maintainers in the service for the fleet could put reaching that deadline at risk. F-35 Program Executive Office (PEO) Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan told reporters Thursday the Air Force is supposed to have a total of 1,100 maintainers of varying experience and…