F-35 Lightning II developments

[Piet Luijken]

GBU-32 WEAPON DELIVERY ACCURACY TEST COMPLETES F-35 LIGHTNING II FLIGHT TEST MILESTONE

Edwards AFB, Calif., Dec. 11, 2013 - An F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft successfully employed a Guided Bomb Unit-32 (GBU-32) Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) weapon from the F-35B's internal weapons bay against a fixed ground test target on Dec. 6, completing a successful flight test and verification year for weapons integration. The latest series of weapons tests was accomplished with Block 2B software. The GBU-32 JDAM is a 1,000 pound "smart" bomb with high accuracy, all-weather, autonomous, conventional bombing capability that is guided by a Global Positioning System (GPS)-aided Inertial Navigation System (INS) to its target upon separation from the jet.

The F-35B aircraft, BF-18, launched from the Air Force Flight Test Center here piloted by U.S. Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Jon "Miles" Ohman. The F-35B separated the GBU-32 from its internal weapons bay above a restricted military precision impact test range in California's Mojave Desert. The GBU-32, released from an altitude of 25,000 feet, guided to a direct hit on its intended target of eight stacked cargo containers.

"This milestone completed the 2013 U.S. Government and Lockheed Martin integrated test force team commitment to perform a Weapon Delivery Accuracy test for each of the Block 2B software weapon types, which includes the AIM-120, GBU-12, and GBU-31/32," said J.D. McFarlan, vice president, F-35 Test & Verification at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

"The combined efforts of the government-industry team have led us to this final weapons event of 2013, and I couldn't be more proud of our team," said Charlie Wagner, F-35 Government Weapons Test Lead.

The test was a major milestone in the F-35 program for the Marine Corps' F-35 Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2015 (employing the 2B software), Air Force IOC in 2016 and Navy IOC in 2018. On Oct. 21, an F-35C Navy carrier variant (CV) at Patuxent River, Md., conducted its first weapons separation test; on Oct. 29, an F-35B U.S. Marine Corps variant short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) jet successfully employed a Guided Bomb Unit-12 (GBU-12) Paveway II laser-guided weapon against a fixed ground tank test target, and on Oct. 31, an F-35A U.S. Air Force conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant successfully launched an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) against an aerial target.

[Piet Luijken]

Fleet Status

Of the first 100 F-35s produced, 44 are F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants, 42 are F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variants and 14 are F-35C carrier variants (CV)
87 F-35s have been delivered to the Department of Defense
67 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Aircraft
There are 34 LRIP F-35s based at Eglin AFB, Fla. (18F-35A (two international aircraft), 14F-35B (including three international aircraft) and 2 F-35C)
There are 2 LRIP F-35As, 2 LRIP F-35Bs, and 1 F-35C based at Edwards AFB, Calif. on loan for SDD
There are 5 LRIP F-35As based at Edwards AFB, Calif., for Operational Testing
There are 16 LRIP F-35Bs based at MCAS Yuma, Ariz.
There are 4 LRIP F-35As based at Nellis AFB, Nev.
There are 3 LRIP F-35s based in Fort Worth expected to ferry to Eglin AFB
20 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) aircraft complete the test and development fleet
There are four F-35As assigned to Edwards AFB, Calif., and five F-35Bs along with four F-35Cs stationed at PAX River NAS, Md. This count includes six static aircraft and AA-1

Fast Facts

There are eight international partners on the F-35 Lightning II program – Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Additionally, Israel and Japan are acquiring the F-35 through the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program.
Lockheed Martin was awarded the Joint Strike Fighter System Design and Development contract on October 26, 2001.
On July 7, 2006 the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was officially named the Lightning II to honor the World War II-era Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the mid-1950s Lightning supersonic jet built by English Electric.
Chief Test Pilot Jon Beesley made the first F-35 flight on December 15, 2006.
The Department of Defense plans to acquire 2,443 F-35s to recapitalize current fighter fleets.
Per unit costs have decreased by more than 55 percent since the procurement of the first production model F-35, which was delivered in 2011.
The F-35 will leverage more than 8 million lines of software code for full functionality, while the F-22, the world’s only other operational 5th generation fighter, uses approximately 2.2 million lines of code.
The F-35 program supports more than 133,000 U.S. jobs in 45 states and Puerto Rico. This figure includes both Lockheed Martin employees and the employees of the F-35 program suppliers.
In the state of Arizona, there are 1,178 direct and indirect jobs related to the F-35 program. The economic impact of these jobs on the State of Arizona is $91.7 million.
Australia joined the F-35 program in 2002, and announced its selection of the F-35 in 2009.
The F-35A is comprised of 280,000 individual parts while the F-35B is made up of 300,000. The F-35C consists of 290,000 individual parts. Despite their differences, the three variants are actually 80 percent common.

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[Coati]

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/p ... -f-35.html

Lockheed Martin Celebrates 100th F-35 Lightning II

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 13, 2013 – At a ceremony attended by more than 2,000 employees and guests, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] celebrated the production of its 100th F-35 Lightning II. Defense leaders Gen. Robin Rand, Commander, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and Brig. Gen. Michael Rothstein, Commander, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz., joined the employees who build the F-35 for the celebration.The first 100 F-35s include 44 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants, 42 F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variants, and 14 F-35C carrier (CV) variants. The U.S. Department of Defense will receive 95 of the first 100 jets from the F-35 assembly line here.  The remaining five jets were delivered to two of the program’s partner countries. The United Kingdom received three F-35B aircraft and two F-35As have been delivered to the Netherlands.“The 100th F-35 symbolizes the maturation of the F-35 program by the collective government and industry partner team as we prepare to ramp up production,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Program General Manager. “It took the collaboration of thousands of people – customers, employees and suppliers – from all over the world to make this day possible. Working together with the F-35 Joint Program Office, the team is focused on delivering the F-35’s 5th generation capabilities to the U.S. armed forces and our allies. This is a proud day for the entire F-35 community.”The 100th aircraft, an F-35A designated AF-41, is the first of 144 F-35s scheduled for delivery to Luke AFB beginning in 2014.   In June, the Air Force announced its decision to increase the number of squadrons at Luke AFB to six with 144 aircraft assigned. By 2015, Luke AFB will be training pilots, including international pilots, destined for deployment to combat units around the world.The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th  generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, advanced mission systems, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and cutting-edge sustainment. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least 10 other countries.Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.

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[Coati]

Announced 5 year defence plan, Japan plans to purchase an additonal batch of 28 F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

The plan, revealed Dec. 13, starts in fiscal 2014. It is expected to be approved in a Cabinet meeting on Dec. 17 along with the National Defense Program Guidelines.

Further spending will include 28 F-35 Lightning fighter jets for the Air Self-Defense Force, as well as four new early-warning aircraft and three new air-refueling and transportation aircraft.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/AJ201312140033

Edit: At first sight it looked like a purchase on top of the 42 already ordered, but it seems like the procurement of 28 aircraft within the planned 42 aircraft (6 aircraft are already ordered, 4 in LRIP-8, 2 in LRIP-9, another 4 in LRIP-10 are under preparation). More clarity Tuesday.

[Coati]

F-35A AF-41 First Flight

Lockheed Martin test pilot Al Norman was at the controls for the first flight of F-35A AF-41 (US Air Force serial number 11-5030). The flight occurred on 15 December 2013 with takeoff and landing at NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas. AF-41 is the 100th F-35 produced and is the first of 144 F-35s scheduled for delivery to Luke AFB, Arizona, beginning in 2014. The US Air Force announced its decision in June 2013 to increase the number of squadrons at Luke AFB to six.

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/f35_news ... em_id=1215

[Coati]

Japan to replace 100 F-15s with stealth F-35s

Japan says it will build up its fighter jet fleet, amid a growing territorial row with its neighboring countries.
NHK reported Wednesday that Tokyo's Defense Ministry plans to replace roughly 100 planes in its F-15 fighter jet fleet with F-35s, which have stealth capabilities.
The move comes as the Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to raise its military budget by five percent over the next five years.
NHK said the plan is designed to allow Japan to demonstrate its military superiority, following China's unilateral decision to expand its aerial defense zone while the two countries are embroiled in a dispute over the sovereignty of a group of islands in the East China Sea.

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=154775

[evhest]

The first Dutch pilot flew the F-35A Lightning II today from Eglin. More is at AIRheads↑FLY.

[Rockville]

Video: http://www.dvidshub.net/video/315200/f-35#.UrIb4k2A2M8

[Coati]

The first Dutch pilot flew the F-35A Lightning II today from Eglin. More is at AIRheads↑FLY.

the waving pilot on the first picture is not the Dutch pilot, since 08-0750/EG is one of the 58 FS aircraft owned by the USAF...see also emblem where Dutch roundel should be. So apparently the waving one is the American wingman. But on the video posted by Rockville we can see him flying F-001

Some more extended reporting:

First Dutch F-35 Pilot Takes to Skies
Eglin Air Force Base
Story by 1st Lt. Hope Cronin


http://www.dvidshub.net/news/118411/fir ... akes-skies

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The first Netherlands pilot took to the skies here in the F-35A Lightning II, making the Netherlands the second partner country to operate the fifth-generation multirole fighter.

Maj. Laurens J.W. Vijge, Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 Integrated Training Center training lead, completed his first flight after 210 hours of classroom training and 13 flights in the simulators.

“The jet handles great and is very easy to fly – in fact, it’s actually easier to fly than the simulator,” said Vijge. “I could not have been better prepared than I was for this flight, and it’s all thanks to the hard work and dedication of people working in the F-35 Academic Training Center.”

The Netherlands currently has two aircraft stationed here where they will continue to train pilots for operational testing and evaluation of the aircraft starting 2015. The Netherlands’ aircraft and personnel are incorporated into the U.S. Air Force’s 58th Fighter Squadron at the 33rd Fighter Wing.

“It was incredible – not only was my first flight in the first Dutch F-35, but I also got to fly this historic mission with Lt. Col. Matthew Renbarger (the 58th Fighter Squadron commander) as my wingman,” said Vijge, who is an experienced F-16 pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours. “It was truly amazing to start this day knowing that a lot of people, both in the U.S. as well as back in the Netherlands, have worked very hard to make this possible.”

The F-35 is designed to penetrate air defenses and deliver a wide range of precision munitions. This modern, next-generation aircraft brings the added benefits of stealth, increased interoperability with our allies and cost-sharing across U.S. services and partner nations.

“This first flight marks the start of an essential training program our pilots require, and it is a great example of the solid partnership between the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the United States Air Force,” said Lt. Col. Albert J. De Smit, Netherlands senior national representative for U.S. F-35 operations.

“The F-35 OT&E will be a cooperative effort with the United States Services and the United Kingdom. This is another example of the cooperative nature of the F-35 program,” added De Smit.

The F-35 program completed approximately 7,400 flights and 11,600 hours to date. More than 3,200 flights and 4,250 hours of the F-35 program were completed at Eglin Air Force Base’s F-35 Integrated Training Center within the last two years.

The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.

Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least 10 other countries.

[evhest]

Thanks for the sharp eye!:-)

[Coati]

No problem I see you already fixed it!

[tally]

11-5023 (AF-34) and 11-5025 (AF-36) delivered to Eglin on Dec 19. Credit to Mike.

Tally.

[Coati]

Netherlands details F-35 transition plan

The Royal Netherlands Air Force's 322 Sqn will become the service's first operational unit to fly the Lockheed Martin F-35, after converting to the type from the Lockheed F-16.

Also currently located at Leeuwarden air base, 323 Sqn will end its operational duties with the F-16 on 1 November 2014. The unit will be relocated to the USA to take part in the F-35 programme's initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) phase, established alongside US and UK squadrons at Edwards AFB in California from 2015.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... an-394532/

[Coati]

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/f35_news ... em_id=1220

F-35C CF-11 First Flight
Lockheed Martin test pilot Al Norman was at the controls for the first flight of F-35C CF-11 (US Navy Bureau Number 168842/NJ-104
). The flight occurred on 23 December 2013 with takeoff and landing at NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas.

[SquAdmin]

I just read that 322nd will be the first RNLAF squadron to fly the F-35.