F-35 Lightning II developments

[Coati]

AF-25 was delivered to Eglin AFB 58 FS, being the first Block 2A F-35A delivered to Eglin. This is the 23rd aircraft added to the Eglin wing (10x F-35A 58 FS, 11x F-35B VMFAT-501 and 2x F-35B RAF).

[Coati]

And the next order for the F-35! Apparently Turkey is confident in the program again after postponing this order last year. Turkey already ordered two F-35As earlier and is supposed to order up to 100 aircraft.

Turkey purchases two F-35 Lightning II aircraft at IDEF '13
0 18 May 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) signed an agreement on Wednesday with Lockheed Martin to make two additional purchases from the F-35 Lightning II family of aircraft, the world's only fifth generation multirole fighters, to be delivered by 2016.
At the signing ceremony held at the 11th International Defense Industry Fair, Lockheed Martin's Vice President of F-35 Program Integration and Business Development Steve O'Brian and SSM Deputy Undersecretary Serdar Demirel represented the two parties to the agreement. While making a presentation on F-35 jets, O'Brian told the participants that the Turkish defense industry has made a significant contribution to the production of the planes. “Although we experienced some difficulties, we achieved our target to finish the product at the end of three years while reducing the expenditures,” he said.

In a 2007 memorandum of understanding, Turkey became the ninth country to take part in the production process of the F-35 warplanes project. The other countries are the USA, the UK, Italy, Holland, Australia, Denmark, Canada and Norway. As part of the project, Turkey will be buying 100 F-35 warplanes in the next 15 to 20 years. A large portion of the $11 billion that Turkey will pay for the planes is expected to return to Turkey through subcontracts given to the Turkish defense industry for their part in producing components of the planes that are then assembled in the US. Turkish companies that took part in the production include: ALP Havacılık, ASELSAN, AYESAŞ, FOKKER ELMO; HEVELSAN, KALE Havacılık, MIKES; ROKETSAN; TUSAŞ and TÜBİTAK.

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-314882- ... ef-13.html

[wweasel]

d/d date AF-25?

[Coati]

d/d date AF-25?

May 6th.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

from Flightglobal: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ff-385757/

F-35B performs first vertical take-off

By: DAVE MAJUMDAR WASHINGTON DC 8 hours ago Source:

Sources say that test pilots at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, performed the first Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter vertical take-off on 10 May.

The US Marine Corps' short take-off and vertical landing variant had a requirement to perform vertical take-offs right from the outset of the JSF programme. However, the capability is not emphasised because the F-35B would not be able to carry a tactically significant payload in that configuration.

Operationally, the USMC envisions its F-35Bs performing short rolling take-offs carrying a full load of ordnance and fuel, and then performing a vertical landing once the aircraft returns to the amphibious assault ship or expeditionary airfield.

The concept of operations is similar to that currently flown by the USMC's Boeing AV-8B Harrier II squadrons. Although the Harrier is often touted as a vertical take-off and landing machine, it flies a similar short take-off and vertical landing profile for the overwhelming majority of its missions.

The original X-35B prototype demonstrated the ability to take off vertically in 2001.

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWji8AcOYGA


http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/p ... -test.html

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., May 16, 2013 – The latest in a series of Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35A high angle of attack (AOA) testing was recently completed.

The testing accomplished high AOA beyond both the positive and negative maximum command limits, including intentionally putting the aircraft out of control in several configurations.

[Coati]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/ ... V020130521

Exclusive: U.S. Air Force to move forward target date for F-35 use

WASHINGTON | Mon May 20, 2013 9:29pm EDT (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force plans to start operational use of Lockheed Martin Corp.-built (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jets in mid-2016, a year earlier than planned, using a similar software package as the Marine Corps, two sources familiar with the plans said on Monday.

The Air Force's decision to accelerate its introduction with a slightly less capable version of the F-35 software package means the planes will carry fewer weapons at first, although the software will later be upgraded to the final version, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said a final decision had not been made and declined to comment further. A spokesman for the Pentagon's F-35 program office declined to comment.

The decision reflects the military's desire to start using the new warplanes, which are already rolling off the assembly line at Lockheed's sprawling Fort Worth, Texas, plant, even as military officials continue to test the plane.

"This decision gets that (U.S.) fifth-generation capability out on the front lines that much sooner," said one of the sources familiar with the Air Force's plans. "It also sends a message about confidence in the program to Congress and the international partners."

Former Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said accelerating operational use of the new warplane would allow the Air Force to learn more about the F-35's integrated battle management system.

"This is not just about replacing aging F-15's or F-16's; it is about changing the order of battle and truly embracing a integrated form of warfare where the F-35 manages the targeting and directs supporting fire at the same time as providing more precise aim points," Wynne told Reuters in an email.

[tally]

Some more 35's delivered this week. On Wednesday, May 22, 2013 F-35B's 168721/VK-03 and 168724/VK-06 made the track to Yuma. That should make six F-35B's at Yuma at this time.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

any first flight date for 168724/VK-06 know?

[warbird_nl]

any first flight date for 168724/VK-06 know?

I have it on 06mar13

Sander

[tally]

any first flight date for 168724/VK-06 know?

I have it on 06mar13

Sander

I agree.

Tally.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

From Aviation Week: http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 96.xml&p=1

U.S. Navy Details Amphibious Ship Mods Required For F-35
By Michael Fabey, Bill Sweetman
Source: Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

May 29, 2013
The U.S. Navy has identified “several specific initiatives on the flight deck” of landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships the service says the vessels will need to accommodate the F-35.

Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, acknowledged Wasp-class ship modifications have been designed for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) vertical lift-and-takeoff variants.

“We did some mods on the Wasp,” Greenert said at a media briefing during the International Maritime and Defense Exhibition (Imdex) Asia 2013 in Singapore.

Navy officials say the modifications “are intended to offset the increased stresses associated with JSF exhaust. The exhaust patterns and flight characteristics of the F-35 required the shielding, relocation and removal of vulnerable systems that could sustain damage during flight operations, such as antennas, life rafts, life rails, safety nets and JP-5 fuel stations.”

Additionally, the Navy says, “The unique heat signature of the F-35 has required reinforcement of the flight deck to alleviate stresses from the heat of the jet, as well as modifying the flight deck coating to reduce erosion caused by jet exhaust associated with increased thrust. Specific system modifications that are unique to F-35 will also require the installation of new voltage regulators and rectifiers. Expanded mission capabilities of the F-35 have also required enhanced munitions throughput and systems capabilities to facilitate increased ordnance delivery and aircraft associated support equipment.”

Some of the detailed modifications include relocating or shielding features such as the Phalanx close-in-weapon system and Rolling Airframe Missile and NATO Sea Sparrow missile launchers, and protecting fueling stations.

The WSC-8 satcoms antenna will also be moved, and the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) system is being expanded.

The changes confirm that Lockheed Martin and the Marine Corps issued erroneous statements in early 2010 regarding the environmental effects of the F-35B’s exhaust. At that time, a company spokesman said that “extensive tests” had shown that “the difference between F-35B main-engine exhaust temperature and that of the AV-8B is very small, and is not anticipated to require any significant CONOPS changes for F-35B.”

The Navy has not disclosed how long it will take to implement the modifications across the LHD/LHA fleet. The F-35 program schedule calls for the first Marine F-35B unit, VMFA-121, to be ready for a “contingency deployment” by late 2015. However, there is no firm date for a second squadron.

The mission for VFA-121 and other early F-35B units is uncertain. Out of the weapons cleared in the Block2B/3I software standard, only the laser-guided bomb is considered useful for close air support (CAS), which is the primary mission of embarked AV-8Bs, and none of the 2B weapons are suitable for use against quickly moving targets or for a situation in which the risk of collateral damage is high. (The centerline gun pod is not included in 2B/3I.)

The F-35B lacks the Rover (remote video receiver) technology, developed since the requirement for the aircraft was written. Rover has been defined as minimum essential equipment for CAS in some theaters; according to some military sources, the Marines have explored the idea of adding a Rover-equipped external targeting pod to the F-35B until an internal solution is available.

At the same time, the Navy has slowed its planned F-35B/C production rate by 20%, according to the latest Pentagon Selected Acquisition Report, resulting in a longer planned lifetime for the AV-8B. According to a Boeing briefing last week, “a majority” of the 134-strong Marine Corps Harrier force will be in service in 2027, and the type will not be retired before 2030. Radar and other upgrades are being studied to keep the aircraft combat-worthy and avoid obsolescence.

[Coati]

No Gripen NG in the Canadian evaluation of the Fighter selection process:


Swedish fighter jet maker declines government's questionnaire

OTTAWA - Scratch one fighter jet maker from the evaluation of options to replace Canada's CF-18 fleet.
The feds are seeking information from five companies on their fighters' costs, capabilities and possible industrial benefits, but senior government officials confirmed Friday that Saab, the Swedish maker of the Gripen, declined to participate.

"We have been informed by Saab, one of the five identified companies, that (it) has decided for business reasons not to participate in the market analysis," an official told QMI Agency.

Saab told QMI Agency the time is "not yet ripe" for it to offer its sales pitch.

"But as the customer continues to mature their process and further define the way forward, Saab will re-evaluate its decision," said spokesman Sebastian Carlsson in an e-mail, adding that the company may yet pitch its jets to Canada.

Saab is developing its "next generation" Gripen-E.

Canadian officials say the possibility of buying Saab fighter jets isn't grounded permanently.

"Not participating in the market analysis in no way precludes a company from participating in any potential, future competitive process," the official said.

Officials say a full-on competition some time in the future is possible, after Canadian fighter pilots and others finish evaluating the various jets.

They'll be looking at Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter, Boeing's Super Hornet, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Rafale manufactured by French company Dassault.

Officials add that teams will assess each aircraft against six missions they could potentially be called on to fly, including patrols of North America, responding to a terrorist attack and fighting a war abroad.

Each jet will be graded on how well it would perform for each mission.

"Our evaluation of options will result in a summary of findings ... how each of those aircraft stack up against the Canada First Defence Strategy," said one official.

The federal cabinet will then get to see the jets' report cards.

"We're going to present to the government the options that it can consider for moving forward on the replacement of the CF-18 fleet, so we will not be recommending a particular aircraft," said one official.

Officials wouldn't confirm speculation that the options will be presented to cabinet in the fall.

The government will also get information on how much longer crews can keep patching up the old CF-18 fleet to keep those planes in the air, until new jets replace the old fleet.





http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/po ... 20613.html

[Richard from Rotterdam]

From the Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... e12269646/

Italy’s ruling party divided over order for F-35 combat jets
STEVE SCHERER AND ROBERTO LANDUCCI
ROME — Reuters
Published Thursday, May. 30 2013, 3:55 PM EDT
Last updated Thursday, May. 30 2013, 4:19 PM EDT

Italian opposition parties and some lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party called on the government on Thursday to abandon its plans to buy 90 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets.

Italy’s total planned investment in the new Lightning II Joint Strike fighters (JSF) exceeds €10-billion ($13-billion) even though it cut its order last year to 90 aircraft from the 131 it had originally pencilled in to buy more than a decade ago, a move it said would save €5-billion.

The opposition Five-Star Movement, the Left Ecology Liberty (SEL) and 13 members of Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s Democratic Party (PD), one of two main components of the right-left coalition, now want to scrap the order completely.

“We can easily do without the F-35,” said Giulio Marcon, an SEL lawmaker. “The government should make a responsible gesture and use these resources to increase welfare spending and create jobs.”

With Italy mired in recession and struggling with public finances, the money saved by eliminating a single F-35 could be used to build 387 daycare centres or renovate 258 schools, according to a motion signed by 158 parliamentarians in the lower house Chamber of Deputies.

The PD said it wanted to cut spending on the program during the campaign for national elections last February, but has since formed a government with Silvio Berlusconi’s People of Freedom (PDL) party, which supports the F-35.

The F-35 investment “should be revised, just as we all said in the election campaign,” Giuseppe Civati, one of 13 PD members who signed the motion, told Reuters.

Mr. Civati, a frequent critic of his own party, accused the PD and former prime minister Mario Monti’s Civic Choice party of reneging on campaign promises to cut spending on the jet.

Defence Minister Mario Mauro, a member of Mr. Monti’s party, said last week the month-old government wanted to go ahead with the purchase, saying, “we need defence tools to guarantee peace.”

The deal includes a provision to give maintenance contracts to state-controlled defence group Finmeccanica as Italy’s aerospace industry is a development and production partner in the F-35 project and Italy has already invested about €2-billion in it.

However, the project is seven years behind schedule and 70-per-cent over initial cost estimates. Other countries have also cut their provisional orders for the plane because of the economic crisis that has shrunk defence budgets worldwide.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

yesterday two more F-35A has been delivered to Eglin