{"id":21706,"date":"2018-10-02T17:51:34","date_gmt":"2018-10-02T17:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/02\/f-35-upgrade-plan-awaiting-approval-from-top-pentagon-acquisition-exec\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:56:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:56:44","slug":"f-35-upgrade-plan-awaiting-approval-from-top-pentagon-acquisition-exec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2018\/10\/02\/f-35-upgrade-plan-awaiting-approval-from-top-pentagon-acquisition-exec\/","title":{"rendered":"F-35 upgrade plan awaiting approval from top Pentagon acquisition exec"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Pentagon\u2019s acquisition executive is set to weigh in on the F-35\u2019s modernization plan in the coming weeks, the F-35 program executive officer said Oct 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An update of the F-35\u2019s acquisition strategy, which spells out the F-35\u2019s Block 4 modernization plan and describes the agile software approach<\/a> that the department intends to use to incrementally upgrade the jet, is sitting on the desk of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord, Vice Adm. Mat Winter told reporters during a roundtable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winter characterized the document as going through the \u201cfinal administrative engagements with her staff and the [Office of the Secretary of Defense] staff,\u201d with Lord\u2019s approval expected \u201cwithin the next couple weeks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy and Air Force acquisition executives \u2014 James Geurts and Will Roper, respectively \u2014 have already approved the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Winter did not provide details on the revised strategy, it is anticipated to contain new cost estimates for Block 4 modernization<\/a> driven by the new agile software approach, which the F-35 joint program office terms Continuous Capability Development and Delivery or C2D2.<\/p>\n\n\n\t