The US’s Defense Acquisitions Board (DAB) has been briefed on JSF Project Office head Vice Admiral David Venlet’s recommendations for the program, but no announcements are likely to be made for several months.
Widely rumoured to include recommendations for an additional 12 months delay in development and up to US$5bn (A$5.2bn) in extra development funding, VADM Venlet’s technical baseline review was initiated after the program tripped a Nunn-McCurdy review back in April. Despite the program being deemed vital for national security and there being no alternative, the review is a necessary part of the Nunn-McCurdy process.
The results of the review and the findings by the DAB in conjunction with Defence Secretary Gates will be folded into the FY2012 budget, which is due to be released in late February.
