F-35 Lightning II developments

[Coati]

Correct, the purchase of an extra SDD F-35C was decided upon with the restructuring of the JSF project in 2011. This became CF-05. So therefore the first operational F-35C for VFA-101 is CF-06. By the way, CF-08 will also join the SDD fleet (temporarily). So in LRIP-4, only CF-06 and CF-07 will find their way to Eglin and VFA-101.

[Melchior Timmers]

Yep, and all these and the other serials known so far can be found in our database (as always)

[Piet Luijken]

LOCKHEED MARTIN HIGHLIGHTS F-35 PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2012

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 11, 2013 – The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II Program completed 30 aircraft deliveries and achieved significant advances in flight test highlighting a year of continued progress for 2012.

The 30 F-35 deliveries in 2012 included 11 Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOLs), 18 Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) variants, and one Carrier Variant (CV). Two of the STOVLs were the program’s first two international jets, which were delivered to the United Kingdom. All but the carrier variant, known as CF-5, were production aircraft delivered to various bases for operational purposes. CF-5 was built for flight testing and delivered to the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program. The 30 aircraft delivered in 2012 is more than double the 13 aircraft delivered in 2011.

The 2012 flight test plan called for 988 flights and 8,458 test points by Dec. 31. For the year, the SDD program flew 1,167 flights and tallied 9,319 test points. The F-35A Flight Science test aircraft flew 291 flights and accomplished 2,573 test points. The F-35B Flight Science test aircraft accomplished 396 flights and 2,443 test points. The F-35C flew 239 flights and tallied 2,247 test points. The Mission Systems test aircraft accomplished 241 flights and 2,056 test points. The F-35B also executed 102 vertical landings.

The cumulative 2012 milestones were achieved through a combination of planned test flights and test points, along with test flights and test points added throughout the year. The flight test program is now more than one third complete in aggregate with the Air Force’s F-35A variant leading the way with 43 percent complete.

“We are completing our third year of on-plan system development performance since the F-35 Program Executive Office completed its Technical Baseline Review in 2010,” said Orlando Carvalho, Lockheed Martin F-35 program executive vice president and general manager. “We fully expect this to continue in 2013 as we begin flight test of the Block 2B mission system software which will ultimately provide the initial war-fighting capability the Marines need for their initial operational capability. This successful system development progress, a maturing production line and further operational base stand up are all strong indicators of the F-35 program’s positive trajectory.”

Other 2012 major milestones:

• U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced the end of probation for the F-35B STOVL, nearly one year ahead of schedule.

• The first two international F-35s were delivered to the United Kingdom.

• The first three operational F-35B STOVL fighters delivered in November marked the beginning of tactical operational training at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.

• 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., completed its Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE) and Air Education and Training Command (AETC) officials announced that the wing is ready for pilot training in 2013. The wing flew more than 700 sorties in 2012.

• Norway procured its first F-35 commencing the largest public procurement project in its history. The event was marked by Minister of Defence Espen Barth Eide authorizing the order for the first F-35A for the Norwegian Armed Forces.

• Luke AFB was selected for F-35A U.S. and international pilot training. The base will receive 72 aircraft for three fighter squadrons.

• Major flight test accomplishments included the first aerial weapons release for the CTOL and STOVL; the F-35A reached maximum high-angle-of-attack milestone in four flights; the first night flight and night refueling missions were accomplished and both the CTOL and STOVL completed air-start testing.

• F-35 program surpassed 5,000 flight hours.

[evhest]

And again, no mention of the Dutch F-35 that was delivered..... This radio silence is ridiculous and absurd. My tax euro's are in that thing! Someone should be held accountable for the way Dutch MoD handles this.

[Piet Luijken]

From Defensenews.com:

ANKARA — Turkey said Jan. 11 it has postponed an order to purchase its first two U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets due to technical problems and rising costs, but said it still intends to buy 100 more in the long run.

“Due to the current state of the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) ... and the rising cost ... it was decided to postpone the order placed on Jan 5, 2012, for the two aircraft,” the Undersecretariat for Defence Industry (SSM) said in a statement.

The SSM, the public body responsible for Turkey’s arms purchases, said the decision was taken because the technical capabilities of the aircraft were ”not at the desired level yet.”

After the initial purchase of the two jets, Turkey plans to order 100 units of the stealth fighter to replace its current fleet consisting mainly of F-4 Phantoms and F-16 Falcons, according to the statement.

Turkey is one of nine countries that are part of a U.S.-led consortium to build the F-35 fighter. The others are Britain, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Norway and Denmark.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

Sounds like the Dutch F35 has not been officially delivered to the Dutch MoD. Anything to do with the ongoing discussion about ordering the JSF or not?

[Coati]

Sounds like the Dutch F35 has not been officially delivered to the Dutch MoD. Anything to do with the ongoing discussion about ordering the JSF or not?

I don't think it has anything to do with it. I rather suspect they are doing some small upgrades on the planes which are already on the flight line but not yet delivered, to correct some things they found in the SDD program . The reason I do think this is the case, is that none of the 8 OT F-35 are delivered as well. Also after the three F-35Bs to Yuma nothing else was delivered IIRC.

[Arjan]

Yes, and there was mentioned somewhere (can't find the article anymore) that there are no Dutch pilots available to fly the F-35. The training program for these pilots is running behind and off course they lack a dual stick version for this plane. They are apparantly thinking of a way to lease the F-001 to other parties until we have a pilot qualified.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

What Arjen is referring to was mentioned in the latest edition of Scramble magazine.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

from www.nu.nl: http://www.nu.nl/buitenland/3002601/jsf ... ekten.html

Gepubliceerd:
Laatste update: 13 januari 2013 09:20
13 januari 2013 09:36

JSF kampt na 20.000 tests nog met 'kinderziekten'
WASHINGTON - Ongeveer een derde van de geplande testen met het nieuwe jachtvliegtuig in ontwikkeling van de Amerikaanse vliegtuigbouwer Lockheed Martin, de F-35 of JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) is uitgevoerd, maar het toestel lijdt nog steeds onder 'groeipijnen'.

Foto: AFP
Een rapporteur van het Amerikaanse ministerie van Defensie heeft gemeld dat het hele JSF-project na 20.000 tests nog steeds kampt met hardnekkige kinderziekten.

Zo blijven er problemen met de helm van de vlieger die een cruciale rol speelt in het geheel van militair technische hoogstandjes. JSF is een project van omgerekend 287 miljard euro. Nederland is onder de negen landen die meebetalen aan de ontwikkeling van het toestel.
Door: ANP

Short English translation:

After 20,000 (about a third of all) test flights, the JSF still has persistent teething problems, according to an oversight reporter of the US Department of Defense. The helmet among the more notable ones.

[Stratofreighter]

As in the post above re nu.nl :

See http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... elays.html

The annual report by Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for Operational Test and Evaluation, reveals major new problems with all three versions of the F-35, as well as significant shortfalls in meeting flight test milestones.

For those of you in need of "bedtime reading":
http://timemilitary.files.wordpress.com ... report.pdf

[Coati]

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/news_ite ... tem_id=959

Lockheed Martin F-35 chief test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew F-35B BF-23 (US Navy Bureau Number 168721/VK-03) on its inaugural flight on 11 January 2013 from NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas.

[Melchior Timmers]

In the Dutch "telegraaf" about grounding the F-35B because loosing a part while on the runway.


Variant JSF aan de grond na defect

WASHINGTON -
Een van de varianten van de Joint Strike Fighter blijft voorlopig aan de grond. Het Pentagon besloot daartoe na een incident met een F-35B-toestel. Daarbij liet een onderdeel van het aandrijvingssysteem het afweten, maakte het Amerikaanse ministerie van Defensie vrijdag bekend.

De piloot van het getroffen toestel besloot niet op te stijgen en wist zonder kleerscheuren de startbaan te verlaten. De oorzaak van het probleem wordt nog onderzocht, maar het Pentagon besloot uit voorzorg om voorlopig af te zien van vluchten met de toestellen.De andere varianten van de Joint Strike Fighter worden niet aan de grond gehouden, omdat het getroffen onderdeel alleen op de F-35B-variant wordt gebruikt.
Het JSF-project geldt als een hoofdpijndossier voor het Pentagon. Zo waarschuwde een rapporteur vorige week dat het hele JSF-project na 20.000 tests nog steeds kampt met hardnekkige kinderziekten. Nederland overweegt de aanschaf van de JSF, maar vooralsnog niet van het type F-35B. Deze uiterst complexe variant kan op een zeer korte baan opstijgen en verticaal landen.

[signorino]

Today an italian newspaper report new problem for italian F-35:

"A striking relationship of Defense reveals that in an attempt to lighten the fighter-bombers of the new generation has become too thin armor of the reservoir of fuel, more hazardous not only to enemy fire"

full article here:
http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2013/ ... ef=HREC1-3

[Piet Luijken]

F-35C COMPLETES FIRST IN-FLIGHT DUAL REFUELING

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Jan. 22, 2013 - For the first time, two Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35C Lightning II carrier variant test aircraft refueled together with a Lockheed Martin KC-130 Hercules in the sky above Patuxent River, Md. recently. The CV aircraft, known as CF-1 and CF-2, completed the milestone as part of an F-35 flight test program that will accomplish more than 1,000 flights in 2013. Later this year, Eglin AFB, Fla., will receive its first CV aircraft joining the F-35 pilot and maintainer training program there.