F-35 Program - General Discussion

[StobieWan]

I had heard about trials using Osprey in the COD role and speculation for a possible future use of the aircraft in AAR and AEW but was not aware that they have actually developed the idea would be good for all users such as the UK, Italy Spain Aust and of course the USMC and USN.

Absolutely - if someone else would do all the development work, we in the UK might be less likely to reject the idea on grounds of cost.

I'd prefer to be saying "more likely to buy" but that's not how the budget rolls right now..


Ian

 

[SpudmanWP]

Video of the AMRAAM launch

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EnttHIgx8s"]First F-35A In-Flight Missile Launch - YouTube[/nomedia]

 

[ADMk2]

An F-35C carrying lots of bombs...

 

[ADMk2]

Good news everyone. JSM fits...

 

[RobWilliams]

AFAIK it's only capable for internal carriage on the A and C

Which is a shame, but not the be all and end all.

 

[SpudmanWP]

3 Minute interview and Flight Test Update

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnkpgQPa_y8"]First F-35A Missile Launch with Pilot Interview - YouTube[/nomedia]

 

[ADMk2]

AFAIK it's only capable for internal carriage on the A and C

Which is a shame, but not the be all and end all.

I believe so, however JSOW C1 fits internally on all F-35 variants and provides maritime strike capability. Australia for instance has already declared it's initial maritime strike capability with F-35A is going to be with the JSOW C1 / F-35 Block IV level of capability.

JSM also fits externally on all F-35 variants and features a 270k standoff range, which should comfortable meet the LO mission requirements when needed, especially as the F-35's external hardpoints are reportedly ejectable in flight...

 

[SpudmanWP]

According to the latest charts, JSOW cannot fit internally in the F-35B.

View attachment 6001

 

[RobWilliams]

Some interesting tidbits in a flightglobal article about what the USMC plans on doing with the F35B. One point being that the first squadron to reach its IOC in 2015 with Block 2B will be deployed to Japan, then 6 jets from the squadron - later the same year - will deploy on the USS Makin Island, Wasp class LHD.

PARIS: USMC explores F-35B operating concepts

The more interesting point is the 3 types of operating concepts being evaluated.

• 1 - Operating 6 jets with MV-22, UH-1Y and AH-1Z
• 2 - deploy 16 F35Bs + 6 MV-22s. With the MV-22s being equipped with RoRo AAR gear
• 3 - maximum sortie generation; deploy with 20 F35Bs

 

[colay]

A disquieting article on the Wall Street Journal states that an internal study group has recommended to,SECDEF Hagel a delay in JSF production to help generate short-term savings.


Pentagon Mulls Delay to Lockheed's F-35 Program

By JULIAN E. BARNES WASHINGTON—The Pentagon is weighing a delay to its most costly and controversial weapons program, the F-35 stealth fighter plane, as part of a short-term cost-saving move, according to defense officials.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is considering the delay as one option presented by a task force to cut Pentagon spending over the second half of this decade.

But officials stressed no decisions have been made and that senior advisers to Mr. Hagel are recommending against the option, noting that it wouldn't save enough money to justify the move...


Pentagon Mulls Delay to Lockheed's F-35 Program - WSJ.com

 

[Air Force Brat]

A disquieting article on the Wall Street Journal states that an internal study group has recommended to,SECDEF Hagel a delay in JSF production to help generate short-term savings.


Pentagon Mulls Delay to Lockheed's F-35 Program

By JULIAN E. BARNES WASHINGTON—The Pentagon is weighing a delay to its most costly and controversial weapons program, the F-35 stealth fighter plane, as part of a short-term cost-saving move, according to defense officials.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is considering the delay as one option presented by a task force to cut Pentagon spending over the second half of this decade.

But officials stressed no decisions have been made and that senior advisers to Mr. Hagel are recommending against the option, noting that it wouldn't save enough money to justify the move...


Pentagon Mulls Delay to Lockheed's F-35 Program - WSJ.com

The Dutch have accepted their first F-35A test aircraft, tail F-001 at Ft Worth, it will likely be flown to Eglin AFB in a few days by an American pilot, and the Dutch technicians will begin working on it, this according to Flight Global. brat

 

[RobWilliams]

Lockheed Martin · Principle Agreement Reached On Two Lower Cost F-35 Contracts

Washington D.C., July 30, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin reached an agreement in principle for the next two F-35 Lightning II aircraft production contracts (Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lots 6 and 7), which is expected to include 71 stealth fighter aircraft and continue a reduction in F-35 aircraft pricing. The contracting effort spanned six months from proposal to settlement.

A decrease in F-35 LRIP 6-7 unit costs, coupled with negotiating lower prices on a number of other smaller contracts, will allow the Department to purchase all the aircraft originally planned, including those that were in jeopardy of being cut due to sequestration budget impacts.

Cost details will be released once both contracts are finalized; however, in general, the unit prices for all three variants of the U.S. air vehicles in LRIP-6 are roughly four percent lower than the previous contract. LRIP-7 air vehicle unit prices will show an additional four percent reduction. The LRIP-7 price represents about an eight percent reduction from the LRIP-5 contract signed in December 2012.

As expected, as production ramps up the unit costs go down. The article goes on to say deliveries of LRIP-6 aircraft (36 aircraft) will be delivered from mid-2014 and LRIP-7 (35 aircraft) from mid-2015.

Solid progress, these contracts include the first aircraft for Australia, Norway and Italy + UK BK-4.

These contract don't involve the engines, LRIP-6 negotions with P&W are ongoing.

 

[rand0m]

Is it just me or does the F-35 look nothing like what it did originally? Did it undergo a redesign at some point?
http://www.superrune.com/gallery/images/2001_x35_03.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/X-35.jpg/300px-X-35.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiCqblEGwgKUJNICchzZDf8cXkGsHlokKVa0dyBubVL5N4hQHs


http://australianaviation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/6673882647_7411c88712_z.jpg
http://www.avionics-intelligence.com/content/dam/avi/online-articles/2012/02/F35-Testing-01.jpg

 

[Bonza]

Is it just me or does the F-35 look nothing like what it did originally? Did it undergo a redesign at some point?
http://www.superrune.com/gallery/images/2001_x35_03.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/X-35.jpg/300px-X-35.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiCqblEGwgKUJNICchzZDf8cXkGsHlokKVa0dyBubVL5N4hQHs


http://australianaviation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/6673882647_7411c88712_z.jpg
http://www.avionics-intelligence.com/content/dam/avi/online-articles/2012/02/F35-Testing-01.jpg

Isn't the aircraft in the older photos the X-35, rather than F-35? If you take a look at the YF-22 as opposed to the F-22A you'll see certain differences too. I think it's just a matter of tuning the design as development progresses.

 

[John Newman]

Is it just me or does the F-35 look nothing like what it did originally? Did it undergo a redesign at some point?
http://www.superrune.com/gallery/images/2001_x35_03.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/X-35.jpg/300px-X-35.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiCqblEGwgKUJNICchzZDf8cXkGsHlokKVa0dyBubVL5N4hQHs


http://australianaviation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/6673882647_7411c88712_z.jpg
http://www.avionics-intelligence.com/content/dam/avi/online-articles/2012/02/F35-Testing-01.jpg

Some of those photos are of the X35.

The X35, can be more considered as a technology demonstrator rather than the final design example that has become the F35.

See the link below for the X35.

Lockheed Martin X-35 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[colay]

How the X-35 morphed into the F-35..

Code One Magazine: X to F: F-35 Lightning II And Its X-35 Predecessors

 

[RobWilliams]

Isn't the aircraft in the older photos the X-35, rather than F-35? If you take a look at the YF-22 as opposed to the F-22A you'll see certain differences too. I think it's just a matter of tuning the design as development progresses.

It's interesting seeing the two designs (YF-22/F-22) next to each other, you can see all the little tweaks about the wing tips and the like. Presumably to enhance VLO characteristics.

One thing about the X-35/F-35 thing though is the fan door, on the X-35 it's a two piece that opens along the centre of the aircraft, on the F-35 it's hinged at the rear. I'd like to know what caused such a design change to occur.

EDIT: Just read colay's link

The X-35 canopy was a two-piece, side-opening design with a conventional bow frame. The F-35 is a one-piece, forward-opening design with an integrated bow frame. The change improves signature characteristics while maintaining low weight. The bow frame was moved back slightly to improve visibility.

 

[SpudmanWP]

The main thing that changed from X-35 to F-35 is the addition of the weapons bays.

The X-35 did not have a weapons bay since it was just a Tech/Concept Demonstrator and not a traditional Prototype.

 

[RobWilliams]

AFAIK wasn't the space where the weapons bay would be used for the gubbins for the landing gear?

 

[AegisFC]

Is it just me or does the F-35 look nothing like what it did originally? Did it undergo a redesign at some point?

The F-22 underwent a similar change from going from YF-22 to F-22

http://www.fighter-planes.com/f22vsf22y.jpg

For the F-35 conformal blisters for sensors and comms gear has been added that wasn't present on the X-35 and there have been other add ons to the eventual service plane the demonstrator didn't need.