168737 has been noted on a RQ-4A at Pax River in 2011:
By Shawn Byers:
Question, fake or not?
There are no pictures on the web while it's flying and since there are a few other UAV mock-ups with fake serials this could be one as well.
168737 does fit in the sequence for the FMS F-35Bs...
So I think the FMS bun's are right.
Thanks!
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With the subsequent LRIP's FMS serial allocations seem to follow the 'rule' that FMS F-35s are allocated the last numbers in the FY allocation'. Eg. 09-5008 / J-001 is the last F-35A in LRIP 3 to be followed by the first F-35 for the USAF in LRIP 4, 10-5009.
With earlier LRIPs the number order for F-35B's was USMC-USN-FMS, now it seems to be USN-USMC-FMS. Still, this would put the first two F-35B's for the Royal Navy in the exact spot where they are:
F-35B 168314 BF-18
F-35B 168315 BK-1 ZM135
F-35B 168316 BK-2 ZM136
F-35B 168717 BF-19
with 314 being the last USMC F-35B of LRIP 3 and 717 being the first of LRIP 4 and the British F-35's tucked in between.
Besides 168737 having been applied to some flying plastic - as noted above - 168737 (ZM137) is the in-sequence number as the last F-35B of LRIP 4 with 168738 being the first USMC F-35B of LRIP 5.
Finally, ZM138 once again fits in as the last allocation of LRIP 7, with 169170 being the next in sequence BuNo following the USN/USMC allocation 169160-169169.
I don't think there is an allocation for LRIP 8 yet, but this includes ZM139-ZM142, the first four 617 Squadron jets to fly from Eglin, destined to become the first Marham based F-35 squadron.
Happy number hunting,
Rob
Last edited by Worldnis on 06 Oct 2015, 22:40, edited 1 time in total.
The second F-35C carrier trial (DT-2) is about to start. Both CF-03 and CF-05 are now on board of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). Trial will last 2 weeks.
Centre Fuselage of AX-5 has been completed by Northrop Grumman. AX-5 is the fifth F-35A for Japan and the first one to be assembled in Japan, Nagoya FACO. AX-5 is part of LRIP-9 (43 aircraft), currently LRIP-7 is running off the production line.
History in the making: IAF has recently initiated the establishment of a new squadron for the state-of-the-art F-35 future fighters, designated "Adir" in Israel.
The squadron is being established at an IAF airbase in the southern region of Israel, and its first commander will be Lt. Col. Yotam.
The establishment of a squadron is a primary phase in the process of assimilating a new aircraft by IAF. This is the first new fighter model to enter service with IAF since the delivery of the Sufa (F-16I) fighters in the beginning of the last decade.
In a first transaction, IAF acquired 14 fighters from the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. A subsequent transaction will involve the manufacture of 17 additional fighters, but IAF intends to acquire a total of two squadrons (50 fighters) of the new fighters initially, and in the long run – 75 fighters that would form three squadrons. The first aircraft intended for IAF are already being built on the production line of Lockheed Martin.
Israel Defense has learned that Lockheed Martin and IAF are currently discussing the feasibility of extending the range of the “Israeli” version of the F-35 future fighter by 30%.
This issue was also discussed during the Paris Air Show in June 2015, which was attended by a delegation of senior Lockheed Martin representatives (the same delegation arrived in Israel at a later time for further discussions). At the same time, an IAF team is already present in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, where IAF specialists work on the aircraft in preparation for their delivery to Israel in late 2016.
Reports have indicated that Israel wishes to introduce various upgrades to the F-35 aircraft, which is being exported to numerous countries around the world. Sources involved in the process said that the future fighters will be fitted with state-of-the-art Israeli systems. "Israel will significantly upgrade the aircraft, just as it did in the past with the F-15 and F-16 fighters," said those sources.
One of the issues discussed and revealed here for the first time is the option of extending the range of the new fighter by means of additional fuel tanks. Israel may be interested in extending the operational range of the new fighter in order to minimize dependence on airborne refueling in long-range missions and minimize the number of take-off and landing cycles in missions that do not involve airborne refueling.
It should be noted that in the past, Lockheed Martin had already manufactured a special version, exclusively for IAF, of the F-16 fighter, which included additional fuel tanks.
The development of a special “Israeli” version of the F-35 future fighter will have to overcome the issue of the increased over-all area of the aircraft envelope, so as to minimize the adverse effect on the stealth characteristics of the fighter (its ability to evade enemy Radar detection). The first F-35 aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to Israel in December 2016.
Some of the upgrades that are exclusive to Israel may be introduced during the assimilation of the first two squadrons by IAF in the coming years.
At present, the range of the F-35 fighter is about 1,150 kilometers (longer than the range of the F-15 and F-16 fighters). Extending the range could provide IAF with the ability to operate against targets in Iran, although even the extended range (1,500 km) will not enable the aircraft to take off from Israel, reach Iran and return without airborne refueling, as the range to the targets in Iran is at least 1,000 kilometers.
Piet Luijken wrote:In a first transaction, IAF acquired 14 fighters from the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. A subsequent transaction will involve the manufacture of 17 additional fighters, but IAF intends to acquire a total of two squadrons (50 fighters) of the new fighters initially, and in the long run – 75 fighters that would form three squadrons. The first aircraft intended for IAF are already being built on the production line of Lockheed Martin.
Small error in this article. The first tranche consisted of 19 aircraft, the second was 14 aircraft plus an option on 17. So 33 firm orders and 17 to be decided next FY (and probably ordered). Then there would be most probably a last order (for the time being) for 25 to reach 75 or 3 squadrons.
Coati wrote:First few will go to Luke iirc for training.
AL-1 through AL-5 will go to Luke for pilot training. The first three will together cross the Atlantic beginning next year. One more will be delivered this year, AL-3 early next year. A total of 6 A-models will be delivered from Cameri FACO by October 2016. LRIP 6 and 7 deliveries. First B-model should be in LRIP 9.
Last night, the Liberals in Canada won the federal elections, which would mean starting a new fighter competition to replace the CF-188 fleet. The Conservatives would most probably have pursuit the purchase of the F-35. This will not mean an exclusion of the F-35 btw, but a new open competition again (most likely involving the usual suspects: Super Hornet, Eurofighter, Rafale, Gripen NG).
5. Fighter jets
The Liberals have promised to cancel the Conservative purchase of F-35 jets, which is expected to cost $44 billion over the jets’ four-decade life cycle. “We will immediately launch an open and transparent competition to replace the CF-18 fighter aircraft,” the platform says, specifying that the F-35’s “stealth first-strike capability” is not needed to defend Canada.
•We will not purchase the F-35 stealth
fighter-bomber.
The primary mission of our fighter
aircraft will remain the defence of North America. We
will immediately launch an open and transparent compe-
tition to replace the CF-18 that will exclude require-
ments that do not reflect Canada’s interests, such as
first-strike stealth capabilities. We will reduce the finan-
cial procurement envelope for replacing the CF-18s.
Instead of budgeting for the acquisition of 65 F-35s, we
will plan to purchase an equal or greater number of lower
priced, but equally effective, replacement aircraft.
At an 80 cent dollar, the per unit fly away cost of each
F-35 is $175 million, and the sustainment costs of each
plane will be $270 million – given that repair work must
largely be undertaken in the United States.
Alternatively, the Super Hornet’s reported fly away price
is around $65 million at an 80 cent dollar, and a large
amount of the sustainment activity can be undertaken
here at home, creating good jobs for Canadians. The
Super Hornet is merely used as an illustration of cost
savings and is not indicative of which aircraft would win a
truly open and transparent competition.
In addition, an open procurement process will ensure
that bids include guaranteed industrial benefits for Cana-
dian companies, typically at a rate of $1 for $1. By
contrast, the Conservative sole source approach does
not guarantee a single contract for Canadian companies
>> another argument for not choosing the F-35 for Canada would be their inability to do mid-air refueling as none of the Canadian tankers are equipped with a high speed boom. Switching to the F-35A would mean replacing the tanker fleet as well.
Well, 65 million US dollars for a Super Hornet is unlikely to happen!
In 2007 Australia paid 130 million USD per aircraft, with engines and electronica, when they bought 24 F/A-18Fs
Last year they paid 175 million dollar USD per aircraft, with engines and electronica, except for the very expensive ECM pods for the Growler.
The first 24 Super Hornets will cost the Aussies about 5 billion dollar for 10 years of service, all included, equals 208 million USD per aircraft.
In Canada's defence: they won't have to replace their tanker fleet if they stick to a hose and drogue fighter. That'll save them a couple of billion dollars. And no need for expensive modifications to house a drag chute for landing on short northerly runways.
