F-35 Lightning II developments

[Flyboy]

What's the price tag on the F-35 variants these days? I guess prices per unit ranging from $70 million to $150 million (the lower being for the F-35A, the higher tag went without a mention of the variant) according to how much the writer of the articles likes Lockheed Martin.

I mean, it's ridiculously expensive in any way ($70 million will feed a large family for their entire lifetime even in expensive places like NYC or Paris, will buy you a ridiculously lavish flat in said New York, or will fund a blockbuster game or movie), but which 5th gen fighter doesn't cost pharaonic amounts of money these days? Hell, even some 4th gen ones are breaking that limit (looking at you, Rafale! And you wonder why our country can't sell you!)

And your point is...? You already gave your own answer, no-one will tell what the price is they negotiated compared to the initial offer, further: it depends on the support package one negotiated with it.

Further to that: Inflation applies to al good, including military so yes: 5th gen costs more that the 4th 30 years ago. The price for not defending yourselves may even be higher.

[tally]

First flight: AF-180, 17-5238/HL 388 FW, 421 FS Dec 10, 2018.

[Coati]

More details emerged on the follow on order of Japan for more F-35s:

They are opting for:
63 F-35A
42 F-35B

So in total 105 on F-35s, on top of the existing order of 42, that makes 147 aircraft, making Japan the biggest F-35 customer outside of the US (at the moment), and the 4th customer to buy the F-35B (others are the USA (Marines), Italy and the UK).

[tally]

First flight: AN-3, F-003 56 FW, 308 FS (I guess) Dec 15, 2018.

Take-Off: 9:25
Up to FL150 overhead Navy for engine checks. Complete.
Over North Texas into the Lockheed area FW CTR override 1.
Super sonic flight (Yes, its in the news and people complaining).
Radar checks and simulated intercept on airliners and what have you.
AW check with chase.
VR-118 recovery.
Into FW CTR override 2.
RTB, T-n-Go RWY 36.
Land: 10:55.

1.5 hrs in the logbook.

[Coati]

The Netherlands will purchase extra F-35As. No specific numbers given, but speculation is a new squadron (15 aircraft).

[tally]

AF-176 15-5201/HL 388 FW, 421 FS delivered to Hill Afb as Strike 11 today, Dec 17, 2018.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

Japan - FACO F-35s new

18-10-2018
Defence officials also pointed out that Japan will stop using a final assembly and check-out (FACO) facility for the country’s F-35As from FY 2019 and start buying completed F-35As and F-35Bs to reduce procurement costs.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

Lockheed Martin hits 2018 F-35 delivery target of 91 jets
20-12-2018
Lockheed Martin Corp said on Thursday it hit its 2018 target to deliver 91 F-35 fighter jets to the United States and its allies, as the defense contractor built 38 percent more jets this year.
The F-35 is key for Lockheed, accounting for about a quarter of its total revenue. During the third quarter, F-35 production volume as well as payments for maintenance increased in the quarter. (

[Stratofreighter]

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

F-35 Flight Operations in Arabian Gulf

(Source: U.S. Marine Corps; issued Jan 03, 2019)

ARABIAN GULF --- A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU),
takes off from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), on Jan. 3, 2019.

(EDITOR’S NOTE:
Since the first announcement of the F-35’s first combat mission in Afghanistan on Sept. 28,
the US Navy has gone strangely silent on the F-35 aircraft based aboard the amphibious ship USS Essex.

From time to time, news items are posted indirectly providing some information.

In the item above, for example, reveals that the ship is now operating in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf,
whereas it was previously steaming in the Arabian Sea.

No further news on what its F-35Bs are doing, however,
but there have been no reports of any combat missions since Sept. 28 – over three months ago.)

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

Innovation In Tight Spaces

(Source: U.S. Air Force; issued Jan 03, 2019)

The current guidelines used for aircraft maintenance required
that the entire engine be removed,
which would require at least 36 hours per jet. (Emphasis added—Ed.) Furthermore, engine trailers and tool boxes would need to be transported to the location, extending the timeline.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The above US Air Force release does not include any news of note,
but does reveal the surprising fact that it takes “at least 36 hours” to remove an F-35A engine
– and presumably another 36 hours to replace it.

This is an unheard-of amount of time,
since modern aircraft are designed to facilitate maintenance
by making the most frequent operations as fast, and as economical, as possible.

But this is clearly not the case with the F-35,
and the 72 hours required to swap its engine partly explain
the lifetime operating cost of over $1 trillion estimated
for the 2,700-odd F-35s that the Pentagon is expected to order.

[tally]

AN-04 (F-004) was moved to the flight line at NAS Fort Worth today (Jan 4). It wont be too long before she takes to the skies over North Texas.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

F-35A AN-04 F-004 f/f 08-01-2019

[hawgwash04@gmail.com]

F-35A AN-04 F-004 f/f 08-01-2019

aIMG_7069 by Matt Ellis, on Flickr

[Worldnis]

F-35A AN-04 F-004 f/f 08-01-2019

aIMG_7069 by Matt Ellis, on Flickr

Great catch Matt,
Still an ugly thing, but hey... its ours (to be)

Rob

[tally]

First flight:
AF-183, 17-5241/WA 57 FW, 422 TES JAN 9, 2019.
AF-184, 17-5242/OT 57 FW, 422 TES JAN 9, 2019.
Starboard side has indeed the 57 Wg patch painted on both of these with the 422 TES patch on the port side.

[tally]

First flight:
AF-183, 17-5241/WA 57 FW, 422 TES JAN 9, 2019.
AF-184, 17-5242/OT 57 FW, 422 TES JAN 9, 2019.
Starboard side has indeed the 57 Wg patch painted on both of these with the 422 TES patch on the port side.