Aircraft
GAO, F-35 Program Differ on Completing Development Phase
The Government Accountability Office estimates that F-35 baseline software testing will continue to May 2018 for an additional $1.7 billion.
Software developmental testing will not affect initial operational capability of the Navy's F-35C in 2018, the JPO says. (Photo: U.S. Navy)
Software developmental testing will not affect initial operational capability of the Navy's F-35C in 2018, the JPO says. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) disagree over the schedule and cost of completing the fighter’s long-running development phase. Developmental testing of the F-35 should be completed, the GAO argues, before Congress approves more money for follow-on improvements and advance aircraft parts.