I'll imagine that this news is relevant from about beginning of this year?
STRIKE TEST NEWS Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 Newsletter
2012 Issue
http://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcad/in...ownload&id=670 (PDF 2.1Mb)
"...
MISSION SYSTEMS AIRCRAFT... [page 24]
...CF-3 returned to Patuxent River after completing final finishes in Fort Worth in early March [2012] and continues to perform F-35C mission systems testing, as well as ship suitability events. Initial catapult tests have been executed on standard steam systems as well as EMALS. A tailhook dynamics evaluation was conducted while performing cable roll-overs and roll-in arrestments at NAS Patuxent River and NAES Lakehurst.
A new hook point design was validated at speeds up to 100 knots, trapping on each attempt....
With a new hook snubber (to prevent bounce) yet to be installed/tested etc. with flyin arrests (some done already with the interim hook as noted earlier).
____________________
Lt General Christopher C. Bogdan Program Executive Officer F-35 SASC Written Testimony 24 Apr 2013
http://www.armed-services.senate.gov...n_04-24-13.pdf (180Kb)
"....During land-based ship suitability testing in 2011, the F-35C tailhook did not catch the arresting wire at a rate considered to be acceptable. A Critical Design Review was completed in February 2013 on a redesigned arresting hook system and modeling and simulation involving the redesigned hook showed a marked improvement in performance. Ground test of this newly redesigned hook is scheduled at Lakehurst, NJ in the 4th Quarter of 2013, followed by aircraft carrier qualifications in 3rd Quarter of 2014. Although work remains to be done, I am confident this new hook will meet our needs...."