F-35 Lightning II developments

[Belgaviation]

The future L-001, indeed
Denmark's First F-35 on the Production Line in Fort Worth

The aircraft is expected to be completed by the end of 2020 and will arrive at Luke Air Force Base in 2021, where it will be included in the training of Danish pilots.
The front fuselage (aircraft hull) for Denmark's first F-35 fighter aircraft (tail number L-001) arrived on the production line at Lockheed Martin's plant in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 16. The front fuselage will contain the cockpit.
(Source: Danish Defence Logistics Organisation; issued Jan. 27, 2020)
(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)

[Hans van Herk]

Food for thought

LRIP XII seems to start with 18-5341
18-5341/18-5388 USAF 48 aircraft (AF-232/AF-279)
FMS 18-5389, candidate is Italy AL-13
FMS 18-5390/18-5404, Australia 15 aircraft (AU-19/AU-33, A35-019/A35-033)
FMS 18-5405/18-5412, eight aircraft, candidate is Netherlands, eight aircraft on order in LRIP XII
FMS 18-5413/18-5420, eight aircraft for Turkey, will be diverted

Unknown FMS series in LRIP XII
Denmark, two aircraft (A?-01/A?-02, L-001/L-002)
Japan, six aircraft (AX-17/AX-22)
Norway, six aircraft (AM-23/AM-28)
South Korea, five aircraft (AW-17/AW-21)

Hans van Herk

[MrBuNo]

Food for thought

LRIP XII seems to start with 18-5341
18-5341/18-5388 USAF 48 aircraft (AF-232/AF-279)
FMS 18-5389, candidate is Italy AL-13
FMS 18-5390/18-5404, Australia 15 aircraft (AU-19/AU-33, A35-019/A35-033)
FMS 18-5405/18-5412, eight aircraft, candidate is Netherlands, eight aircraft on order in LRIP XII
FMS 18-5413/18-5420, eight aircraft for Turkey, will be diverted

Unknown FMS series in LRIP XII
Denmark, two aircraft (A?-01/A?-02, L-001/L-002)
Japan, six aircraft (AX-17/AX-22)
Norway, six aircraft (AM-23/AM-28)
South Korea, five aircraft (AW-17/AW-21)

Hans van Herk

This is also what I have listed, plus 6 F-35I for the IAF (AS-22/AS-27). Also, I have 56 USAF F-35A listed, so I expect 8 extra USAF aircraft at the end of the Lot, or they are simply the diverted Turkish aircraft. What is your source for 5 ROKAF F-35A? I have 12 listed, but I'm not sure about this.

Edit: AX-17/AX-22 is Japan of course, I meant AS-22/AS-27 for IAF. Thanks Starman

[Starman]

The IAF has already 20 (plus AS15) so any in LRIP XII would be AS22 onwards.

[nils]

apparently, the Belgian Air Force is looking into an option for 14 additional F-35A's, on top of the 34 now ordered.
althought its doubtfull the order will go through.

https://plus.lesoir.be/275739/article/2 ... PSquClJtVs

[gluefan1]

Summarizing LRIP-12 so far:
- US: 48A, 20B, 9C (77)
- UK: 3B
- Italy: 1A, 2B (3)
- Netherlands: 8A
- Australia: 15A
- Norway: 6A
- Turkey/US: 8A
- Denmark: 2A
- Israel: 6A
- Japan: 6A
- S.Korea: 5A
Total: 105A, 25B, 9C (139)

To remind you the block buy of 478 airplanes from October 2019 consist of:
- 149 in LRIP-12
- 160 in LRIP-13
- 169 in LRIP-14

Divides like that:
- 351A, 86B, 41C
- US (291), JSF (127), FMS (60)

Therefore LRIP-12 missing 10 airplanes unless they changing the numbers and/or more airplanes to come...

[Coati]

Not sure if 149 is still the final nr for Lot-12. After the 'final' agreement in October, the US government threw another 20 for FY18 and 16 for FY19 in the mix.

This award brings the Department of Defense into compliance with Congressional direction by placing all 20 FY18 (Lot 12) and 16 FY19 (Lot 13) congressional plus up aircraft on contract.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... craft.html

I thought 12 S Korea jets as well, and 2 Italian A and 1 B. but that could also be 1 A and 1 B, not sure.


Also still puzzling with the LRIP-11 jets: I had listed 24 B USMC and 12 USN C plus 2 USMC C. The C models are apparently delayed and pushed backwards on the production line. For the USMC B I count 22 instead of 24 for LRIP-11...

[raameagle]

AFAIK LOT12 has two Italian A models and one B.

Regards

Mark

[nils]

In an attempt to divert the F-35A's destined for Turkey, they have been offered to Belgium.
however, the Belgians refused them.

https://www.lecho.be/entreprises/defens ... e/10204366

[Starfighter_F-104G]

RoKAF F-35s delivery
19-014 , 19-015 , 19-016

dep 30.01.2020 Ft Worth on delivery

[evhest]

Poland today announced an order for 32 F-35's, deliveries to run from 2024 to 2030.

[Alpha Kilo One]

https://www.ad.nl/friesland/friesland-o ... irefox-b-m

It is in Dutch. Can't find it in English, only in Frisian unfortunately.....

[Starfighter_F-104G]

https://www.ad.nl/friesland/friesland-o ... irefox-b-m

It is in Dutch. Can't find it in English, only in Frisian unfortunately.....

Friesland on hind legs for low-flying route F-35

The provincial government is standing on its back legs to bring a low-flying route for F-35s above eastern Friesland to life.
Leeuwarder Courant 30-01-20, 10:30

1

The Ministry of Defense wants jet fighters to practice at a height of 75 meters. That saves money, because the pilots now have to go to Canada for similar activities.

Provincial States are preparing a motion. Various groups are trying to get their party members to take action in the Lower House. Politicians feel robbed. They do not think it is a good idea that the Defense organization did not first consult properly.
Sleeping existence

The low-flying route has been dormant for eighteen years. He sails from Moddergat to Kollum, Harkema, Ureterp, Nijeberkoop, Noordwolde-Zuid, Vledder and Steenwijk. Fighter jets may fly at least 75 meters above this line. That is lower than an average windmill. Municipalities are not allowed to allow tall structures on the route.

The Provincial Executive wanted the route to be removed from the books for that reason. After all, it had not been used by Defense since 2002. Kites went to Canada for their low flying training. But like a thunderbolt in a clear sky, the ministry came with the message that it wants to reactivate the route. The Ministry of Defense reports this in the application for a new environmental permit for military flight activities.

The members of Parliament were informed on Wednesday about the flight plans. "Skande", states States member Sijbe Knol (FNP). The party has started a petition and will submit a motion at the next States meeting. The support for this turned out to be massive on Wednesday; PvdA, Party for the Animals, ChristenUnie, GrienLinks, D66 and Forum for Democracy, among others, asked critical questions. ,, And no: noise yn De Haach. It is just oars. "
"Low flying is a skill that a kite must practice"

The ministry had sent Jelle Zijlstra, airspace revision coordinator, to Provinsjehûs for explanation. Defense wants to start the conversation, said Zijlstra. But from a legal point of view, there is little to say against reactivating the low-flying route. He could not tell anything about how and why. ,, There are costs associated with practicing in Canada. I can imagine that the Ministry of Defense says: we prefer to do it in the Netherlands. Low flying is a skill that a kite must practice. That is not possible above the sea, they have to navigate on terrain characteristics. "
Displeasure in letter

The Provincial Executive has expressed their dissatisfaction in a peppery letter to the Ministry. The college is "very surprised" about the intention, it is afraid of noise nuisance and dangerous situations due to the location of Drachten Airport. In addition, there are several quiet areas on the route. She calls the use of the low-flying route "very undesirable".

Directors of Frisian municipalities will be briefed next week. The same applies to provincial administrators from Drenthe and Groningen. At the end of March there is administrative consultation with the responsible State Secretary Barbara Visser (Defense) and Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (Infrastructure and Water Management).

[Bjorn]

AT-08 (18-5414) seen flying at Fort Worth on January 31st.

Greets,

[Bjorn]

RoKAF F-35s delivery
19-014 , 19-015 , 19-016

dep 30.01.2020 Ft Worth on delivery

Anyone has some pictures of those?

Greets,