F-35 Lightning II developments

[Starfighter_F-104G]

First flight 18-5345/AK. marked as 354 OG.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/496 ... 10e2_h.jpg

[gluefan1]

First flight 18-5345/AK. marked as 354 OG.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/496 ... 10e2_h.jpg

Black?

[sdamico]

An EIS has been released on the AFRC basing plan or Beddown (preferred location Fort Worth, alternates Davis-Monthan, Homestead, and Whiteman). It states that there will be 24 PAA and 2 BAI, with aircraft arriving between 2024 and 2026. Construction of new facilities on-base will begin in 2021 and continue through to 2023.

https://www.afrc-f35a-beddown.com

SD

[tally]

First Flight Mar 24, 2020.
AF-237 (18-5346/AK) 354 FW, 356 FS.
BF-96 (169681) nkms.

Delivery to Yuma Mar 24, 2020.
BF-93 (169678) nkms and BF-95 (169680) nkms.

Also noted today, not sure if it was a FF, was AW-20 (20-020).

CF-45 (169640) attempted a first flight but ground aboard at the EOR plus two others that went unidentified.


Not a bad day. Not a bad day at all.

Tally.

[Hans van Herk]

Looking for the LRIP of BF-95 and BF-96 (169680 resp 169681).
Are they also part of LRIP XI?

I thought LRIP XI (for the US F-35Bs) is BF-71 to BF-94 (24 aircraft).

Hans van Herk

[raameagle]

BF-95 and BF-96 are LOT12 jets.
Regards
Mark

[Hans van Herk]

BF-95 and BF-96 are LOT12 jets.
Regards
Mark

Thank you.
What is the, so far known, "breakdown" for LRIP XII for the various services including FMS?

Earlier I saw 149 aircraft in total reported for this LRIP.

Hans van Herk

[Hans van Herk]

Just found something on LRIP XII

119 aircraft, but missing exact numbers for USMC and USN

Australia 15x (A35-019/-033, AU-19/33, FMS 18-5390/5404)
Denmark 2x (L-001/002, Ax-01/02, FMS unknown)
Italy 3x (MM7362/AL-12, FMS 17-5287 also reported as LRIP XI ??, MMxxxx/AL-13, FMS 18-xxxx, MM7453/BL-03, FMS ?)
Japan 6x (09-8717/8722, AX-17/22, FMS 18-xxxx)
Netherlands 8x (F-011/F-018, AN-11/18, FMS 18-5405/5412)
Norway 6x (xxxx, AM-23/28, FMS 18-xxxx)
South Korea 6x (20-017/022, AW-17/AW-22, FMS 18-xxxx)
Turkey (now USAF) 8x (xx-0017/0014, AT-07/AT-14, FMS 18-5413/5420)
UK 17x (ZM153/169, BK-19/BK-35, FMS ?, ZM153 is reported as FMS 169630)
USAF 48x (18-5341/5388, AF-232/AF-279 plus the 8 Turkish ones
USN ?
USMC ?

Looking forward to reactions. I have doubt on the first Italian one, it also has an FMS 17- serial)

Hans van Herk

[Starman]

The Israel Air (& Space) Force will receive 6 from each of LRIP 12, 13 & 14 taking it to a total of 39 before series production begins.
Here is AS12 seen during this week's "joint" exercise with "the Americans". As no American aircraft will land in Israel my guess would be,
if F-35s are involved, Marine Corps aircraft from an LHA.

918 by Starman, on Flickr

[gluefan1]

The Israel Air (& Space) Force will receive 6 from each of LRIP 12, 13 & 14 taking it to a total of 39 before series production begins.
Here is AS12 seen during this week's "joint" exercise with "the Americans". As no American aircraft will land in Israel my guess would be,
if F-35s are involved, Marine Corps aircraft from an LHA.

Few things:
- That's correct, the Israel inventory till FRP: 20 (active) + 6 (LRIP-12)+6 (LRIP-13)+6 (LRIP-14)+ AS-15 = 39
- The exercise was without US forces, USS Bataan with the USMC 26MEU moved on to join the 5th fleet AOR (tension with Iran)
- AS-12 (tail 918) in the pic was part of 140FS, recently together with AS-04 (tail 905) reassigned to 116FS

BTW, for the previous posts

BF-96
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon_t ... otostream/

AW-20
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon_t ... otostream/

AF-237
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon_t ... otostream/

[SBGrad]

Can't find the original source document, but it's been widely reported that going forward, all USMC F-35 squadrons will contain 10 aircraft/squadron.

https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-cor ... s-by-2030/

No actual data as to whether the total USMC buy of F-35s is going down, but this article 'infers' that total number might be down as much as 100 aircraft:

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/wh ... 13.article

[Bjorn]

First Norwegian flew yesterday. Serial 5384! Means they are in front of the Australian batch. Also means the USAF FY 'window' narrows down from 18-5341 till 18-5383 at the most if you don't take into account any Italians.

Greets,

[Hans van Herk]

First Norwegian flew yesterday. Serial 5384! Means they are in front of the Australian batch. Also means the USAF FY 'window' narrows down from 18-5341 till 18-5383 at the most if you don't take into account any Italians.

Greets,

Interesting development, Norwegians ones (six aircraft) will then be 5384 to 5389
The USAF batch may be "cut short" as they already receive the eight former Turkish ones.

Hans

[tally]

First Flight Mar 26, 2020.
AM-23 (5384).
CF-45 (169640). After two failed attempts at first flight early this week it finally went up only to return with an IFE. Nothing major but had to cut the flight testing short.

Delivery to Luke AFB Mar 26, 2020.
AU-23 (A35-023) destined for No 3 Sqn and AU-24 (A35-024) destined for the 2 OCU.


Tally.

[gluefan1]

"Enduring Lightning" exercise in Israel, March 29th 2020
Four F-35A's from USAF 34FS based in Al Dhafra Air Base participated together with four F-35i's from IAF 140FS in A2A and A2G missions.
Because of the COVID-19 the event was only in the air includes briefing and debriefing using classified communications devices.
Seems like the US F-35's flew non stop around 2800-3000 miles (from UAE to Israel, made the exercise and flew back), impressive.

Article + photos
https://www.iaf.org.il/9274-52089-en/IAF.aspx