Defense Secretary Panetta Lifts F-35B Probation

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has lifted the two-year probation placed by his predecessor on the F-35B Lightning Short Takeoff, Vertical Landing (STOVL) Joint Strike Fighter variant. Panetta made the announcement Friday during a tour of Patuxent River Naval Air Station arranged by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D: 5^th) Panetta made the announcement before a group of Pax River workers and community leaders and standing in the JSF hanger before one of the aircraft.

“Because of your work the STOVL variant has made sufficient progress so that today I am lifting the STOVL probation, Panetta said to a very loud applause from those assembled in the hanger.

Panetta credited the hard work of the Integrated Test Team at Pax River that consists of 550 contractor personnel and 250 civil service employees. “This generation of fighter behind me is absolutely vital to maintaining our air superiority,” the secretary said. He said he and the defense department were committed to the development of the F-35, which was good news for the community that is one of the key locations for testing the various JSF variants.

The F-35B is intended for the Marine Corps and the F35C, also tested at Pax River is a Conventional Take Off and Landing intended for the Navy. The F35A, an Air Force variant, is being tested at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Five F35B’s and three F35C’s have been tested at Pax River and at the Texas headquarters of Lockheed Martin, according to Lt. Col. Matt Kelly, the F-35 flight operations lead.

VADM David Venlet, program executive officer for the F-35 Joint Fighter Program Office, issued the following statement upon Panetta’s release of the F-35B probation: “Secretary Panetta’s decision to take the F-35B Lightning II short takeoff, vertical landing (STOVL) variant off probation was a hard-earned and rewarding announcement for the entire DoD/Industry team that worked very hard last year. Successful F-35B performance ashore and at sea has very positively advanced the state of demonstrated capability in 2011. The positive momentum generated during 2011 will continue as testing proceeds, production aircraft are delivered, and fleet training begins in 2012.”

General James F. Amos, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, issued the following statement on Panetta’s removal of the probationary status for the F-35B: