F-35 Lightning II developments

[Flyboy]

Not ment to start a new discussion... It is odd to say at least: the news is being spinned so long now that one indeed might lose the bigger picture: The program is running behind and now even delays are being framed as being caused by external reasons such as the mechanics of the Warthog not being available for training.

The spinning doctors of LM put in a lot of effort and it seems pay off. Now lets hope we get sufficiënt quantities to oppose future threads (those that are getting more obvious daily now .... )

[Coati]

Not really relevant because its old news, but to close this detour about overall delay here a background article about reasons of delay from both the pentagon and lm:

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/b ... l?page=all

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[Coati]

According to statements of the carrier test pilots the highly automated F-35C makes carrier landings much easier, reducing workload. More at link.

http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2014/nov/1 ... z-results/

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[Melchior Timmers]

Still looking for the Buno's of CF-17 and CF-18 though...

CF-18 is reported as 169030/NJ-113 (LRIP6)

[Starfighter_F-104G]

169023 BF-038
169024 BF-039
169025 BF-040
169026 BF-041
169027 BF-042
169028 BF-043
169029 CF-017
169030 CF-018
169031 CF-019
169032 CF-020
169033 CF-021
169034 CF-022
169035 CF-023

[Melchior Timmers]

Nice!
Are these confirmed or created after the ID of 169023 and 169029?

[Coati]

F-35C shines in first carrier trials aboard carrier Nimitz
By Joshua Stewart, Staff writer 11:07 a.m. EST November 16, 2014

ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER NIMITZ IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN — After 10 days of sea trials here, the differences between the F-35C Lightning II and its predecessors are becoming readily apparent as the plane is launched, trapped and maneuvered topside.

Sailors who got the opportunity to work with the next generation strike fighter said the F-35C has attributes that aren't found elsewhere in the airwing. It has a smoother ride, it's easier to taxi, and it has less complicated landing procedures. In many ways, it does a lot of the heavy lifting itself and takes work away from sailors.

"It's truly an administrative task," said Cmdr. Tony Wilson, the lead test pilot for the F-35C, in an interview Nov. 13 as the 10 day testing wrapped up. Pilots and flight deck crews found the more compact plane easier to fly and maneuver aboard ship, good attributes for an aircraft that's seen many delays and is now slated for a 2018 fleet introduction.

The stealth fighter handles well and its control system cuts the pilot's workload, he said.

The most stressful task in carrier-based aviation — the landing — has been simplified with the delta flight path, a program that partially automates the approach and adjusts the plane's trajectory just seconds before the aircraft reaches the flight deck. This system allows pilots to focus more on other aspects of flying, Wilson said.

"It's going to make landing on the boat a routine task," he said. "This makes it fun," he later added.

Compared to legacy aircraft, the F-35C has a more graceful approach, said Lt. Chris Karapostoles, a landing signal officer assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23.

Compared to the F/A-18 Super Hornet, also known in aviation circles as the Rhino, the F-35C can adjust its approach faster and smoother, making it more likely to hit the three wire — the ideal landing, Karapostoles said.

More at the link:

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military ... /19019879/

[Coati]

Israel is likely to buy 10-15 F-35A in the second batch, after intervention of Ministers, to allow other expenses on defense. So halve a squadron instead of a complete squadron.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Coati]

Most likely the second Israëli batch will be staggered according to Reuters: 13 aircraft now, 17 more in 2017 to complete the second squadron.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[tally]

12-5050/LF first flight Thursday, Nov 20, 2014. It has "61 FS" markings on the tail.

Tally.

[Stefan]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cont ... b-aircraft

The Ministry of Defence has signed the contract to order 4 Lightning II combat aircraft.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has signed a contract for the first production batch of 4 Lightning II stealth combat aircraft – which will operate from both the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers and Royal Air Force (RAF) land bases.

The contract for the F-35B aircraft forms part of the MOD’s investment in Lightning II over the next 5 years to procure an initial 14 of these multi-role fifth generation aircraft, as well as putting in place the necessary support arrangements and infrastructure.

Further contracts will cover the procurement of a range of equipment such as engines.

Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, said:

Looking to the future, the investment we are making in the F-35 aircraft will ensure we are securing the skies for decades to come, providing the UK with the latest stealth technology and multi-role aircraft capability.

Not only does our investment in these next generation aircraft afford us air superiority, but the UK’s tier one status in the entire programme provides UK industry with a unique opportunity to produce world-leading products, technologies and manufacturing expertise for coming decades. The aircraft will be a powerful testament to the strength and capability of British industry.

In addition, with the aircraft being supported and operated from RAF Marham, this will create job opportunities for the local community, as well as maintaining its key role as an RAF operating and engineering sustainment base which will support the military and civilian workforce for years to come.

The news comes as a UK test team has completed initial aircraft handling trials for ASRAAM and Paveway IV on the F-35B aircraft.

Trial rounds, which are identical to the operational weapons, were tested for the first time during a series of flights from the US Navy’s test facility at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.

These initial tests are an important step in integrating weapons onto the F-35B, allowing test pilots to understand how they affect the way the aircraft performs and handles.

The aircraft are short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) and feature the latest stealth capabilities alongside intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) technology.

[wamovements]

Yesterday, three F-35As were delivered to Luke AFB. Anyone for the tail#?

[tally]

Yesterday, three F-35As were delivered to Luke AFB. Anyone for the tail#?

From what I gathered they were AF-54, 55, and 56 with tail numbers 12-5043 through 12-5045.


Tally.

[tally]

First flight for AF-62 (12-5051) with tailcode WA and markings of the USAFWS today, Nov 26, 2014.


Tally.

[Coati]

Some details about the Norwegian procurement of the F-35. As already known the government approved acquisition of the first 16 aircraft. Four are already on order and in production (2 for LRIP-7, 2 for LRIP-8). The next 6 are for LRIP-9, now being negociated. The next 6 for LRIP-10. The Norwegian plan is to buy 6 aircraft per lot/year.:

http://www.airforce-technology.com/news ... ts-4451691

Norway starts negotiations for ninth LRIP batch of F-35 jets
The Norwegian Government has started negotiations with the US for the ninth low-rate initial production (LRIP-9) lot of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft.

To date, the country has ordered four F-35 fighters, with the last two being delivered as part of a $4.7bn LRIP-8 contract signed between the US Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin.

Norwegian Fighter Aircraft programme director major general Morten Klever said: "The LRIP 9 contract will complete the first round of the main Norwegian delivery, i.e., six aircraft to be delivered in 2017.

"It is then that the first aircraft will be coming to Norway.

"Here things are going faster, and there's a lot of work going on here in Norway to receive these planes."

The LRIP-8 contract was awarded last week. It requires Lockheed to supply a total of 43 aircraft to both the US and allied militaries.

The production cost for the LRIP-8 airframes without engines has been reduced to $94.8m.

In addition, Lockheed will have to cover 100% of any cost overruns in the aircraft production and 50% of the cost of modifications that are found to be necessary during the test programme.

"The LRIP 9 contract will complete the first round of the main Norwegian delivery, i.e., six aircraft to be delivered in 2017."

All four Norwegian aircraft are already in production, and the first is expected to be handed over to the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RoNAF) in the second half of 2015.

some more at the link