Troubled logistics system critical to F-35's future.

• Author: Insinna, Valerie
• Position: Homeland Security News

* It has been widely reported that the Marine Corps is racing to ready the F-35 for initial operational capability this summer. Less well known--but just as crucial--is the work being done to prepare the joint strike fighter's fleet management system, which will support everything from mission planning, ordering spare parts and maintenance.

Like the plane itself the Autonomic Logistics Information System, or ALIS, has had its share of problems, including delays and limitations to its functionality. The office of the director of operational test and evaluation characterized the system as inefficient and difficult to use in its 2014 report.

"Overall, ALIS is behind schedule, has several capabilities delayed or deferred to later builds, and has been fielded with deficiencies," the report stated. Although some issues have been fixed as new versions of the hardware and software are released, others have lingered and new problems have popped up. In some cases, the system "requires the use of workarounds for deficiencies awaiting correction."

F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin is developing and fielding ALIS in increments, in a similar fashion to the aircraft's software. All three U.S. services planning to purchase the F-35--the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy-will use the system to maintain their jets and manage its logistics enterprise. It will reach its full level of capability in 2017.

Lockheed and the F-35 joint program office plan to finish testing of a new iteration of the system, ALIS 2.0.1, in time for the July IOC date. The testing and release schedule leaves no margin for delays, the DOT&F report said.

"We have had multiple conversations with our JPO counterparts as well as our service counterparts, and they are fully onboard," said Mark Perreault, Lockheed's ALIS development director. "We're all working a coordinated effort to ensure that we meet the needs of the Marine Corps in July."

However, he added that "there's very little buffer" in the schedule.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, the government's F-35 program executive officer, said in an emailed statement that he is concerned that ALIS 2.0.1 and 2.0.2 are slightly behind schedule.

"Lockheed Martin has made improvements in ALIS software development, testing and fielding, so we are working hard to make up some of the original delays," he said.

There were no surprises in the DOT&E report, Bogdan said. "All of the issues mentioned were well known to us and our industry...