Pentagon sees risk in F-35 fighter's complex logistics program

Long delays in Lockheed Martin Corp's development of a computer-based logistics system for the F-35 fighter jet pose the biggest threat to the U.S. Air Force's plan to declare the aircraft ready for combat next summer, the head of the Pentagon's F-35 program office said.

"It's the thing that worries me most," Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan said in an interview at the annual Air Force Association conference. "We're on a full court press with ALIS," the Autonomic Logistics Information System.

ALIS will consolidate all functions handled separately on older aircraft programs. These include automatically capturing and disseminating data about the F-35's performance and components, pilot and technician training, scheduling, technical data, and the ordering of parts.

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