Brig Gen David Heinz, who inherited the programme a year ago, will be replaced by a three-star general or admiral, with the higher-ranking officer signalling a new commitment to resolving the programme's problems. Moreover, the Pentagon moved $2.8 billion from F-35 production into the research and development account, but the overall budget remained steady at nearly $11 billion in FY2011, says Steve O'Bryan, Lockheed vice-president for business development. Although the DoD slashed production by five jets, one F-35 was added to the its pending request for emergency war funding. O'Bryan casts that decision as an indication that the Pentagon views the F-35 as relevant for current operations. Lockheed also announced that the third flight-test aircraft for the short take-off and vertical landing programme - dubbed BF-3 - has achieved first flight. This was more than one year behind the original schedule, but Lockheed portrayed the event as another sign of progress.