F-35 Lightning II developments

[tally]

First Flights:
May 30, 2017 - F-35B (BF-57) 169412/VK-13 (VMFA-121).

[Piet Luijken]

Israel's air force will take delivery of an additional Lockheed Martin F-35 in 2020 with a special suite of test instrumentation.
"This unique aircraft, which was not part of any other F-35 contract, will enable us to begin the work of upgrading the capabilities of this aircraft so that it answers our special operational requirements," says the commander of the air force's test center, identified only as Lt Col Shlomy.
The unique test aircraft is being manufactured according to specifications that took two years to prepare, he adds. It will be used to enhance the type's capabilities during air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
"All our platforms have been upgraded to enable stretching the flight envelope while using the unique weapon systems made by Israeli industry," Shlomy says.
Planned updates to Israel's operational F-35I "Adir" fighters will be "directly connected" to the type's scheduled maintenance programme, "in order to not disrupt the aim of the shortest time on the ground between complex missions".

[Thunder]

The first Japanese-assembled F-35A was officially unveiled today.
http://bit.ly/2rt118S

[Bjorn]

Does anyone have more news on the FY 15 serials sequence? Here's an overview.

USAF: 15-5118/15-5143 (confirmed)
Italy: 15-5144 (only spot available between USAF and Norwegian serials)
Norway: 15-5145/15-5149 (confirmed)
Israel: ?
Japan: ?
USMC: 169411/169416 (confirmed)
UK: ?
Italy: ?
USN: 169424/169425 (confirmed)

Greets,

[Hans van Herk]

Does anyone have more news on the FY 15 serials sequence? Here's an overview.
USAF: 15-5118/15-5143 (confirmed)
Italy: 15-5144 (only spot available between USAF and Norwegian serials)
Norway: 15-5145/15-5149 (confirmed)
Israel: ?
Japan: ?
USMC: 169411/169416 (confirmed)
UK: ?
Italy: ?
USN: 169424/169425 (confirmed)
Greets,

With regards to Norway, LRIP 9 has six F-35A-3I aicraft, serial range 15-5145/5150.
From this batch 5145 to 5147 have been seen recently at Ft Worth (TX).

Regards,
Hans van Herk

[Coati]

Spain has set its eyes to the F-35 as well. The MoD has a requirement of 45-50 F-35 to replace the EF-18 fleet, plus an additional 12-15 F-35B to replace the AV-8B fleet.

http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/06/05/ine ... rsoc=TW_CC

And Germany might be in the market for F-35s as well to replace the Tornado fleet and older Eurofighters:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-lockhe ... KKCN18D14F

[tally]

First Flights:
June 6, 2017 - F-35B (BK-11) ZM145.

[Bjorn]

Both Israeli 908 and USAF 15-5130 were seen flying at Fort Worth on June 23rd.

Greets,

[frankvhemert]

and what about our own F-35A's....any sign of them? We are testing a lot with F-001 and F-002 but that's it.
I am also "surprised" that the RAF ones are being build so slow..latest one is ZM144 (sofar only 9 build?

Regards
Frank

[Coati]

and what about our own F-35A's....any sign of them? We are testing a lot with F-001 and F-002 but that's it.
I am also "surprised" that the RAF ones are being build so slow..latest one is ZM144 (sofar only 9 build?

Regards
Frank

KLu F-35s will be delivered starting in Lot-11. Currently Lot-9 is rolling off production line, so 1,5 years to go. Israël was the first non US F-35 customer to order with 19 aircraft in 2010 (not counting commitments and test aircraft). Also production is gradually stepping up. So not really strange you see just a few RAF and no RNLAF F-35s delivered.

[MrBuNo]

I am also "surprised" that the RAF ones are being build so slow..latest one is ZM144 (sofar only 9 build?

Regards
Frank

There are currently 11 F-35Bs for the RAF, ZM135-ZM145. But you're right, not that many yet.

Both Israeli 908 and USAF 15-5130 were seen flying at Fort Worth on June 23rd.

Greets,

IAF serial 908 is most likely AS-6 right? We know they reserialled 903 to 907 (which is most likely AS-3). Did they also skip 906? I think this is most likely the case:

AS-1 901
AS-2 902
AS-3 903 -> 907
AS-4 904
AS-5 905
AS-6 908

But there's also the possibility AS-4 or AS-5 is 907, for example:

AS-3 903 -> 904
AS-4 904 -> 905
AS-5 905 -> 907

[Bjorn]

According to our sources 903 became 904 (AS-03). AS-04 always was 905 and AS-05 is 907. So AS-06 is (up untill now) 908.

Greets,

[Starfighter_F-104G]

AL08 MM7358 32-08 ff 29-06-2017

[Lordofthedragons]

34th FS from Hill received the last 2 F-35's completing the squadron to 24 F-35's.

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- The 388th Fighter Wing accepted its 23rd and 24th combat-coded F-35A Lightning lls last week.

The June 21 addition means the 34th Fighter Squadron and 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit have their full component of operational jets.

“Gaining the 24th F-35A here is another outstanding milestone for the 388th and 419th wings,” said Col Jason Rueschhoff, 388th Operations Group commander. “This allows both operations and maintenance to fine-tune our tactics, techniques, and procedures with a focus on maximizing our combat lethality.”

This is a pivotal point for combat-capability development said Col. Michael Miles, 388th Maintenance Group commander.

"Having the full number of aircraft in one FS/AMU means we'll soon receive our full personnel and equipment,” Miles said. “This allows us to meet all potential combat taskings."

The 388th Fighter Wing received its first F-35A in Nov. 2015.

Since that time, the unit has been developing the best tactics, techniques and procedures – shaping how the F-35A operates in the Air Force, said Capt. Christina Merritt, 34th AMU officer in charge.

Merritt said receiving the 24th aircraft will help push the threshold and help them further test the limits of the F-35A.

A total of 78 jets will be delivered to two additional F-35A squadrons in the 388th Fighter Wing through the end of 2019.

The 4th FS and the 4th AMU are expected to receive the next F-35A this summer.

Staff Sgt. Zachary Kasperek, 34th AMU crew chief, said he is proud to be part of the Air Force’s newest platform.

I know this jet is going to be around for a long time and it’s pretty special to be a member of the unit that is leading the way with the F-35A’s success, Kasperek said.


http://www.hill.af.mil/News/Article-Dis ... -aircraft/

[Starfighter_F-104G]

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $3,693,062,124 undefinitized not-to-exceed modification to the previously awarded low-rate initial production Lot 11 F-35 Lightning II advance acquisition contract (N00019-16-C-0033).
This modification provides for the procurement of 50 aircraft for non-Department of Defense participants and foreign military sales (FMS) customers comprised of
one F-35B aircraft for the UK;
one F-35A aircraft for Italy;
eight F-35A aircraft for Australia;
eight F-35A aircraft for the Netherlands;
four F-35A aircraft for Turkey;
six F-35A aircraft for Norway;
22 F-35A aircraft for FMS customers