F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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Could you explain to assorted readers the legal basis for bombing Syria from Cyprus?
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Originally Posted by Niner Lima Charlie
F-35: Still No Finish Line in Sight. 17 years in development, over budget, not ready.
F-35: Still No Finish Line in Sight
F-35: Still No Finish Line in Sight
“Finally and most importantly, the program will likely deliver Block 3F [the untested, allegedly “fully combat-capable” F-35 model now entering production] to the field with shortfalls in capabilities the F-35 needs in combat against current threats.”
Whether it will live up to 'lavish promises’ or suffer shortfalls in 'anticipated capabilities’ might just be countered with... is it flying? Can it do a specific tasks that up till now was not possible? Is it a credible counter to similar type threats being developed by enemies?
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Further signs of progress. Will U.S. Navy’s F-35 Be Ready On Time? (Aviation Week Network).
Extract:-
Extract:-
The U.S. Navy’s USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier will be headed to sea loaded with war-ready F-35Cs for the first time in 2021, if all goes according to plan.
But the F-35C carrier variant has a long road ahead before it can kick off its first operational deployment.
The Navy version of Lockheed Martin’s new fighter has made major progress over the last year. The “Rough Raiders” of VFA-125, the “Grim Reapers” of VFA-101 as well as VX-9 recently completed carrier qualifications on the USS Abraham Lincoln, greenlighting the first nine F-35C pilots to take off and land. At NAS Lemoore, California, the “Argonauts” of VFA-147, which will support the 2021 deployment, in February began their transition to the F-35C.
The JPO is working to implement three hardware fixes
The Navy will not declare the F-35C combat-ready until it demonstrates 3F capability during IOT&E
IOC will likely happen in 2019
The Navy will continue working on interoperability, communications and weapons integration
Meanwhile, the Joint Program Office (JPO) has resolved three major deficiencies on the F-35C: a “green glow” that obscures pilots’ vision during nighttime carrier landings; violent vertical oscillations during carrier launches; and overloading of the wings when carrying Raytheon’s AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, the aircraft’s primary dogfighting weapons.
But the F-35C carrier variant has a long road ahead before it can kick off its first operational deployment.
The Navy version of Lockheed Martin’s new fighter has made major progress over the last year. The “Rough Raiders” of VFA-125, the “Grim Reapers” of VFA-101 as well as VX-9 recently completed carrier qualifications on the USS Abraham Lincoln, greenlighting the first nine F-35C pilots to take off and land. At NAS Lemoore, California, the “Argonauts” of VFA-147, which will support the 2021 deployment, in February began their transition to the F-35C.
The JPO is working to implement three hardware fixes
The Navy will not declare the F-35C combat-ready until it demonstrates 3F capability during IOT&E
IOC will likely happen in 2019
The Navy will continue working on interoperability, communications and weapons integration
Meanwhile, the Joint Program Office (JPO) has resolved three major deficiencies on the F-35C: a “green glow” that obscures pilots’ vision during nighttime carrier landings; violent vertical oscillations during carrier launches; and overloading of the wings when carrying Raytheon’s AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, the aircraft’s primary dogfighting weapons.
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"Whether it will live up to 'lavish promises’ or suffer shortfalls in 'anticipated capabilities’ might just be countered with... is it flying? Can it do a specific tasks that up till now was not possible? Is it a credible counter to similar type threats being developed by enemies?"
and of course - how many can we afford............. I don't think anyone thinks it won't see service but the numbers look like a lot less than originally hoped for......
and of course - how many can we afford............. I don't think anyone thinks it won't see service but the numbers look like a lot less than originally hoped for......
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RAAF takes its first F-35As with block 3F software
On Flight Global today.
Snip:-
Any F-35Bs with Block 3F yet?
Snip:-
The Royal Australian Air Force has taken delivery of three Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters at Luke AFB in Arizona.
The three aircraft are equipped with the type’s block 3F software, a more capable version than the 3I software installed in its first two examples, says Australia's defence minister Marise Payne.
“These latest aircraft are fitted with the program’s final software system, which unlocks the aircraft’s full war-fighting potential including weapons, mission systems and flight performance.”
She adds that Australia is the first international partner to accept jets with Block 3F software.
The three aircraft are equipped with the type’s block 3F software, a more capable version than the 3I software installed in its first two examples, says Australia's defence minister Marise Payne.
“These latest aircraft are fitted with the program’s final software system, which unlocks the aircraft’s full war-fighting potential including weapons, mission systems and flight performance.”
She adds that Australia is the first international partner to accept jets with Block 3F software.
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Bigpants,
Someone has already posted UN resolution 2249, not that the UK needs anything of the sort for the actions it and a good proportion of the rest of the West is taking daily over Syria and Iraq.
As to Trump and withdrawing from Syria, I think you may just be a little out of touch on that...
Someone has already posted UN resolution 2249, not that the UK needs anything of the sort for the actions it and a good proportion of the rest of the West is taking daily over Syria and Iraq.
As to Trump and withdrawing from Syria, I think you may just be a little out of touch on that...
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Originally Posted by Heathrow Harry
"Whether it will live up to 'lavish promises’ or suffer shortfalls in 'anticipated capabilities’ might just be countered with... is it flying? Can it do a specific tasks that up till now was not possible? Is it a credible counter to similar type threats being developed by enemies?"
and of course - how many can we afford............. I don't think anyone thinks it won't see service but the numbers look like a lot less than originally hoped for......
and of course - how many can we afford............. I don't think anyone thinks it won't see service but the numbers look like a lot less than originally hoped for......
Some information on what it may mean to us.https://rusi.org/sites/default/files...e_f-35_web.pdf
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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Assume a couple of million an airframe. What the hell, what’s $400M in the F-35 program....
Defense Department halts F-35 deliveries amid repair bill disagreement with Lockheed
Defense Department halts F-35 deliveries amid repair bill disagreement with Lockheed
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Originally Posted by ORAC
Assume a couple of million an airframe. What the hell, what’s $400M in the F-35 program....
Defense Department halts F-35 deliveries amid repair bill disagreement with Lockheed
Defense Department halts F-35 deliveries amid repair bill disagreement with Lockheed
Last edited by glad rag; 12th Apr 2018 at 11:57.
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F-35 completes developmental flight testing
On Aviation Analysis Wing:-
The F-35 program has accomplished the final developmental test flight of the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the program.
Since the first flight of AA-1 in 2006, the developmental flight test program has operated for more than 11 years mishap-free, conducting more than 9,200 sorties, accumulating over 17,000 flight hours, and executing more than 65,000 test points to verify the design, durability, software, sensors, weapons capability and performance for all three F-35 variants.
While SDD required flight test is now complete, F-35 flight testing continues in support of phased capability improvements and modernization of the F-35 air system.
The final SDD flight occurred April 11, 2018, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., when Navy test aircraft CF-2 completed a mission to collect loads data while carrying external 2,000-pound GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-seeking missles.
From flight sciences to mission systems testing, the critical work completed by F-35 test teams cleared the way for the Block 3F capability to be delivered to the operational warfighter. More than a thousand SDD flight test engineers, maintainers, pilots and support personnel took the three variants of the F-35 to their full flight envelope to test aircraft performance and flying qualities.
Since the first flight of AA-1 in 2006, the developmental flight test program has operated for more than 11 years mishap-free, conducting more than 9,200 sorties, accumulating over 17,000 flight hours, and executing more than 65,000 test points to verify the design, durability, software, sensors, weapons capability and performance for all three F-35 variants.
While SDD required flight test is now complete, F-35 flight testing continues in support of phased capability improvements and modernization of the F-35 air system.
The final SDD flight occurred April 11, 2018, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., when Navy test aircraft CF-2 completed a mission to collect loads data while carrying external 2,000-pound GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-seeking missles.
From flight sciences to mission systems testing, the critical work completed by F-35 test teams cleared the way for the Block 3F capability to be delivered to the operational warfighter. More than a thousand SDD flight test engineers, maintainers, pilots and support personnel took the three variants of the F-35 to their full flight envelope to test aircraft performance and flying qualities.
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2249
Originally Posted by pr00ne
Bigpants,
Someone has already posted UN resolution 2249, not that the UK needs anything of the sort for the actions it and a good proportion of the rest of the West is taking daily over Syria and Iraq.
As to Trump and withdrawing from Syria, I think you may just be a little out of touch on that...
Someone has already posted UN resolution 2249, not that the UK needs anything of the sort for the actions it and a good proportion of the rest of the West is taking daily over Syria and Iraq.
As to Trump and withdrawing from Syria, I think you may just be a little out of touch on that...
Although Resolution 2249 (2015) on ISIS/Daesh in Syria and Iraq, passed on 20 November 2015, is about the use of force, it does not clearly authorise states to use force. It seems intended to have more political than legal impact, particularly in displaying a unanimity that had previously been notably lacking.
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Originally Posted by Lyneham Lad
], or the testing that followed the weight reduction program [I might not have got those in the right order]?So what happens about the Block 4 testing, the testing that's done after the processor redesign [
] and software writing [] to allow FULL employment of ALL capabilities [sic] of the aircraft in a FULL warfighting role? [their description not mine]So testing isn't REALLY finished, is it.
Last edited by glad rag; 13th Apr 2018 at 17:34. Reason: meh
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Originally Posted by ORAC
the F-35 project is making real progress, the manner in which it has occurred is yet another example of official pronouncements employing obtuse and “technically correct” verbiage that can obscure the obvious and still significant issues that project faces. This only diminishes the impact of positive news that emerges since it is immediately bogged down in caveats and asterisks...
...including aircraft the Air Force and Marine Corps have already committed to combat operations without the benefit of independent IOT&E tests, could also lead to both embarrassment and more dangerous miscalculations in the future....
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Thanks for reminding all the whingeing nellies (funny how only one side in this debate acts like the South Park kids, minus the humor) how right we were in 2009 when we dismissed the promised 2012-13 IOC dates as the moonshine that they were.
Yes, some capability is close to being delivered - but much later, and at much higher cost, than it would have been if a few early mistakes had been avoided - I'm talking about the unquestioned assumption that CAIV and a highly common OML, and nothing else, would deliver the desired cost savings - and if developmental problems had been managed better.
But the real problem with such a long development cycle is... well, cast your mind back to 1994-95. How often did you think about China back then, if you weren't Neal Stephenson?
Yes, some capability is close to being delivered - but much later, and at much higher cost, than it would have been if a few early mistakes had been avoided - I'm talking about the unquestioned assumption that CAIV and a highly common OML, and nothing else, would deliver the desired cost savings - and if developmental problems had been managed better.
But the real problem with such a long development cycle is... well, cast your mind back to 1994-95. How often did you think about China back then, if you weren't Neal Stephenson?
