Good morning. This hearing of the subcommittee on readiness and management will come to order. Subcommittee meets today to receive testimony from undersecretary defense for acquisition and sustainment, ellen lord concerning supply chain integrity fourth apartment of defense in the United States. Since her initial confirmation as the under secretary of defense secretary lord has oversensitive give acquisition reform at the department of defense and i am sure we will talk about some of that today. As the u. S. National armament director she has traveled to see the u. S. Throughout the u. S. And the to see our allies and partners with regards to the development and Manufacturing Activities around the world and unfortunately has seen how reliant the u. S. Defense Industrial Base chain has become particularly as it relates to china. With the rise of china and Great Power Competition and the Global Pandemic the vulnerabilities and gaps in our supply chain particularly as it relates to the Na
Subcommittee meets today to receive testimony from under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, ellen lord, concerning supply chain integrity for the department of defense in the United States. Since our her initial confirman as the undersecretary of defense, secretary lord has overseen significant acquisition reform at the department of defense, and a chill well talk about some of that today. As the u. S. National armaments director she has traveled to see the u. S. , throughout the u. S. And to see our allies and partners with regard to the development and Manufacturing Activities around the world, and, unfortunately, has seen firsthand just how reliant the u. S. Defense Industrial Base chain has become come to class relates to china. With the rise of china and Great Power Competition of the global covid19 pandemic, the vulnerabilities and gaps in our supply chains particularly as relates to National Security have taken on a new urgency. What you think Ranking Member k
Will rubber talked about the future Acquisition Strategy and airpower capabilities. He spoke at the center for new American Security for just over an hour. Thank you very much, everyone for joining us here today. Apologies that were a butle behind schedule joining me today at my virtual fireside is dr. Will roper, assistant secretary of the air force for acquisition logistics and technology and ive invited will here today because he has a new idea for how to develop and produce aircraft, fighter aircraft. And i think that its really easy to get distracted or fixated on incremental technology or pointy, shiny new systems. If will has found a way, a better way, more efficient way with more opportunities to iterate and produce weapons systems, its potentially more Game Changing in the military competition with china. So thats what were here to talk about today. A new concept, so concept called the digital sentry series. Whats it all about . I want to say, its a pleasure being here with yo
Secretary of the air force for acquisition logistics and technology and ive invited will here today because he has a new idea for how to develop and produce aircraft, fighter aircraft. And i think that its really easy to get distracted or fixated on incremental technology or pointy, shiny new systems, but if will has found a way, a better way, more efficient way to iterate and produce weapons systems, its potentially more Game Changing in the military competition with china. So thats what were here to talk about today. A new concept, so whats it all about . I want to say, its a pleasure being here with you. We did some budget fights back in the day and i just appreciate all of the energy and enthusiasm that youve brought. I also want to give you big props to discuss a digital series, you have a digital fireplace. Its a great leadoff. Look, this is going to be a complicated issue for us, but i think the general idea is pretty easy to pick up. Were already a service that uses Digital Lea
Fighter program. As i have consistently said, the f 35 Program Remains one of my top acquisition and sustainment priorities. Earlier this month and our last press briefing i made a commitment to come back to you when we were ready to announce the next f 35 contract. Here we aare. The f 35 Program Milestone authority alongside abwe are here to announce the u. S. Department of defense and Lockheed Martin have made tremendous progress and now have an Agreement Regarding the lot 12 to 14 Production Contract. This is a historic milestone to the f35 enterprise. As the f35 is our largest taxpayer investment and will form the backbone of the u. S. And allied fifthgeneration inventory for the foreseeable future. Anf in the joint Program Office are laser focused on driving cost out, quality up, and achieving timely deliveries of our capability to our war fighters. With respect to ontime delivery weve exceeded the total aircraft quantity we delivered to the war fighter last year. We have a 96 per