Joint Strike Fighter Acquisition: Development Schedule Should Be Changed to Reduce Risks

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the results of its review of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft program, focusing on whether the acquisition strategy: (1) is designed to demonstrate to a low level of technical risk those critical technologies, processes, and system characteristics necessary to produce an affordable family of strike aircraft that meets all participants' needs before entering engineering and manufacturing development; and (2) is being implemented in a manner that will ensure that this objective will be achieved.