What F-35 Can Teach Us about Global Software Delivery for Impact

Systems Engineering is a diverse field both in terms of approaches but also in impact and exploitation. Working across 12 political systems, with over 700 aircraft operational worldwide, the F-35 is a 5th Generation military aircraft which delivers impact through data. Keeping all the software intensive systems flying, through obsolescence, repair, new technology and upgrade is a configuration and logistical challenge. In late 2019, the US F-35 Joint Project Office embraced agile software delivery to reduce software cycle times from 18 months to 6 weeks. This is the story of that time.