US legislation moves F-35 sustainment, acquisition away from the Joint Program Office

A USAF F-35A seen on 16 December. Legislation signed into law on 27 December directs the Pentagon to transfer all F-35 sustainment and acquisition activities from the F-35 JPO to the USAF and USN. (US Air Force)

US legislation signed into law on 27 December directs the Pentagon to transfer all Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II sustainment and acquisition activities from the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) to the US Air Force (USAF) and US Navy (USN).

The fiscal year (FY) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requires the Pentagon to move all functions relating to the management, planning, and execution of F-35B- and C-model sustainment activities to the USN no later than 1 October 2027. The legislation also directs the Pentagon to move similar F-35A sustainment activities to the USAF in the same time frame.

By 1 October 2029, the Pentagon must also have transferred all F-35 acquisition functions from the JPO to the USAF and USN. Similar to the sustainment activities, the USN will manage F-35B and F-35C acquisitions, while the USAF will handle F-35A procurement. Congress wants a plan for carrying out these transfers from the under secretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment in coordination with the USAF and USN secretaries by 1 October 2022.