DoD chief tester warns on F-35 cyber, software issues

[Lone Ranger]

The Pentagon's chief weapons tester has raised concerns about the F-35's combat software development timeline and its logistics software's vulnerability to cyber attacks. Source: Lockheed Martin
Key Points

• The F-35's digital logistics system could be vulnerable to cyber attacks and its combat software development is in danger of falling behind schedule
• The Pentagon said the programme remains on track to deliver its most advanced combat software in 2017

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter's digital maintenance and logistics system could be vulnerable to cyber attacks, while the jet's combat software development is in danger of falling behind, the Pentagon's operational test chief warned in a leaked 11 December memo.

The F-35's Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) "continues to struggle in development with ... a complex architecture with likely (but largely untested) cyber deficiencies," wrote Michael Gilmore, the Department of Defense's (DoD's) director of operational test and evaluation (DOT&E), according to a portion of the document viewed by IHS Jane's .

The Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) acknowledged the need for more robust cyber security testing of ALIS. "The Joint Program Office absolutely agrees with DOT&E that robust cyber vulnerability testing is essential," JPO spokesman Joe DellaVedova said via email on 25 January. He added that the programme has conducted over 2,000 cyber tests across all spectrums, including air vehicle, training systems, mission software, reprogramming laboratories, and logistical support systems. In 2015 alone, the programme conducted approximately 300 such tests.

Gilmore also raised concerns about potential delays to the aircraft's combat software development. DellaVedova acknowledged that there is approximately four months of "potential risk" in the Block 3F software testing schedule.

"However, at this point in time, the programme is still tracking to a summer 2017 end date for 3F testing," he added. The goal is to deliver full Block 3F capabilities at that time. As of 15 January 2016, Block 3F development flight testing has completed approximately 50% of all baseline test points, DellaVedova said.

http://www.janes.com/article/57454/dod-chief-tester-warns-on-f-35-cyber-software-issues