F-35 Lightning II developments

[Bjorn]

If someone knows the FY allocation of either the Israeli 901 or the Japanse 69-8701, that would be great.

Greets,

[Melchior Timmers]

LRIP 8, so 2014?

[Bjorn]

Yes, but I mean the entire number .

Greets,

[Belgaviation]

Luke Receives Air Force’s 100th F-35 On Heels of IOC Announcement, Unit Activation

LUKE AFB, Ariz. --- The F-35 Lightning II program took another huge step forward Aug. 26 when the Air Force’s 100th F-35, designated AF-100, arrived here following the recent announcement of the fifth-generation jet fighter’s initial operational capability.

“This marks a milestone and shows the fact that the F-35 program has continued to grow, progress and support initial operational capability,” said Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, the 56th Fighter Wing commander. “It is also a ‘scare factor’ for our enemies that we are able to produce such an incredible platform at such a high production rate and that it’s getting out in the field in larger and larger numbers.”

Luke Air Force Base received its first F-35 in March 2014 and developed the training and tactics for the program. The fleet has since grown to more than 40 F-35s at the base, including those of partner nations such as Australia and Norway. The base also recently activated its third F-35 unit -- the 63rd Fighter Squadron.

“A lot of people put the blood, sweat and tears into making sure we could have an agreement with the community that would allow us to train and continue to produce the future of airpower,” Leonard said. “Standing up the third squadron marks the halfway point as we grow up to six squadrons. It also comes with the heritage of the 63rd, which is incredible, and to be able to see that take new form in the shape of a Lightning aircraft is phenomenal.”

From the first training sortie on May 5, 2014, to the arrival of the first partner-nation F-35 on Dec. 18, 2014, and more recently beginning its first-ever F-35 mission-ready Airmen training class for maintainers, Luke AFB is no stranger to F-35 milestones.

“Last year we began U.S. Air Force and partner pilot training at Luke AFB in Arizona, where a blend of U.S. and partner instructor pilots are helping to train U.S. Air Force and other partner pilots,” Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, F-35 Joint Program Executive Officer, said during an April 26 hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee.

As Luke AFB continues to perfect F-35 training, the Air Force has moved beyond training with the Aug. 2 announcement of the fighter’s IOC accomplishment.

“The Air Force is now receiving F-35As at Hill AFB in Utah,” Bogdan said.

With the reception of the 100th F-35, Luke AFB is quickly transitioning to the only active-duty Air Force F-35 training base, providing the world’s greatest F-35 fighter pilots to the new operational squadrons and eventually to combat.

“The F-35 is going to be the backbone of the fighter fleet in the United States Air Force and for our partner nations,” Leonard said. “There are going to be more F-35s than any other fighter platform, and all that training starts right here at Luke AFB.”

[Alpha Kilo One]

Oops.... Not really good news......

https://warisboring.com/the-f-35-stealt ... .zf4if8z8j

There will be (at least some) truth in it.....

[Le Addeur noir]

Oops.... Not really good news......

https://warisboring.com/the-f-35-stealt ... .zf4if8z8j

There will be (at least some) truth in it.....

If this report is anywhere near true-and it probably is- the operators of the F-35 had better hope there is not the need to send this airplane into combat until somewhere near the 2025 timeframe. Let's just hope the "peace loving" Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans and Russians don't read this report in the next 10 years and take advantage of it. As if they would.........

Too late for the US Air Force to procure a couple of wings of F-16 Block 60s, and/or the latest version of the F-15?.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

read war is boring article is a waste of time

[Coati]

South Korea will probably follow up their initial order of 40 F-35As with another 20.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Securi ... 473697715/

[Le Addeur noir]

read war is boring article is a waste of time

From another forum, their reputation is not high.

[Alpha Kilo One]

Als je de moeite neemt om hun verhalen goed te lezen, en uiteraard een beetje te filteren, haal je er toch hele nuttige info. Die je vaak nergens anders vindt.
Maar tegen schenen schoppen doen ze graag. En dat maakt per definitie niet bij iedereen geliefd.

[Flyboy]

Oops.... Not really good news......

https://warisboring.com/the-f-35-stealt ... .zf4if8z8j

There will be (at least some) truth in it.....

If this report is anywhere near true-and it probably is- the operators of the F-35 had better hope there is not the need to send this airplane into combat until somewhere near the 2025 timeframe. Let's just hope the "peace loving" Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans and Russians don't read this report in the next 10 years and take advantage of it. As if they would.........

Too late for the US Air Force to procure a couple of wings of F-16 Block 60s, and/or the latest version of the F-15?.

Although I have not been shy with comments in the past, this time I think they are overreacting. Most of the problems mentioned are due to the chosen project management method (first built and fly, test in the proces and rectify later) so a logical result that should have been foreseen (as some did...). Some others are normal in an IT developmental environment and will be solved eventually.

Most of the report is political 'I told you so' IMHO.

What I find interesting is how the development of all the other 5th-gen fighters is going on. They wont be much better...

[Alpha Kilo One]

What I find interesting is how the development of all the other 5th-gen fighters is going on. They wont be much better...

I would like to replace the word "interesting" into "worrying".....

[Starman]

Another glitch, but from a somewhat more reliable source:

WASHINGTON — The US Air Force has ordered the grounding of 13 F-35A models, as well as a pair of Norwegian F-35As, following the discovery of "peeling and crumbling" coolant tube insulation.

The issue appears to have been with a supplier of coolant lines, which are installed in the wings of the jet. During a routine maintenance check, it was discovered that the insulation on the lines were in some cases decomposing, which left residue in the fuel itself, according to a release from the Norwegian government on the grounding.

The issue has been traced back to the insulated coolant tubes manufactured by one particular provider that have only been installed in the wing fuel tanks of the 15 aircraft — 10 from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, two US and two Norwegian F-35As at Luke AFB, Ariz., and one plane at Nellis AFB, Nev.

..... the Air Force ordered the temporary suspension of flight operations for those jets out of an "abundance of caution" regarding potential effects from the degraded insulation.

The impact expands further than the operational F-35 inventory, as there are 42 aircraft currently on the production line that have received parts from the same provider. That includes three three Norwegian aircraft scheduled for delivery early next year. It is unclear if those parts will need to be replaced or if other nations planes will be impacted.

Other articles have gone straight for the total 57 a/c involved, obvious scaremongering.

[Golf Lima]

Another italian F-35 due in CONUS this week.

[Coati]

VFA-147 Argonauts (currently flying F/-18E Super Hornets) will be the first frontline F-35C squadron, forming in 2018. Next one will be USMC VMFA-314 in 2019. By the end of this year VFA-125 will be activated with the F-35C as fleet replacement squadron. As known, the only F-35C sq at the moment is VFA-101.