F-35 Lightning II developments

[Hans van Herk]

Thanks all

[roberto]

First test flight of F-017 today at Cameri

[Starfighter_F-104G]

04-03-2021
Three more F-35A Lightning II's delivered to Eielson
18-5379
18-5380
18-5381

[Starfighter_F-104G]

UK new

-The Integrated Review paper, 'Global Britain in a Competitive Age', will be published on March 16
-A more detailed paper on the MoD's plans for modernisation will come on March 22

Royal Air Force:
-The UK's plan to order 138 F-35B jets will be reduced by 90 The initial order was for 48;
-24 Typhoon jets will be retired early
-These two cost-saving measures will allow prioritising Tempest, set to enter service in 2035.
-Sentinel and Islander will *not* be replaced
-The UK's order for five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft will be reduced to three
- 14 C-130J Hercules will be scrapped
-The BAe 146 will be replaced with leased aircraft
-The transport helicopter fleet will be cut by 45 (presumably this means a combo of Merlin Mk4, Chinook, and Puma, but again, unconfirmed)

[Le Addeur noir]

UK new

-The Integrated Review paper, 'Global Britain in a Competitive Age', will be published on March 16
-A more detailed paper on the MoD's plans for modernisation will come on March 22

Royal Air Force:
-The UK's plan to order 138 F-35B jets will be reduced by 90 The initial order was for 48;
-24 Typhoon jets will be retired early
-These two cost-saving measures will allow prioritising Tempest, set to enter service in 2035.
-Sentinel and Islander will *not* be replaced
-The UK's order for five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft will be reduced to three
- 14 C-130J Hercules will be scrapped
-The BAe 146 will be replaced with leased aircraft
-The transport helicopter fleet will be cut by 45 (presumably this means a combo of Merlin Mk4, Chinook, and Puma, but again, unconfirmed)

If that's true, Britain might just as well disband her entire military. 60 plus years of cuts has just about done that, anyway.

[Alpha Kilo One]

Same story everywhere....
Too many costly toys will never make numbers.
Read carriers and JSF.

In Israel and USA they are finally realising.

[Le Addeur noir]

Same story everywhere....
Too many costly toys will never make numbers.
Read carriers and JSF.

In Israel and USA they are finally realising.

The new Biden administration is critical of the overpricing and under performance of the F-35 and is seeking to review (i.e. curtail) orders for this, whilst reviewing alternatives, which include further orders for both F-15s and F-16s in updated versions.

[Alpha Kilo One]

For example this one?
https://breakingdefense.com/2021/01/rop ... cle-costs/

[Tu154]

Danish L-001 first flight today

[tally]

Danish L-001 first flight today

F-35A L-001 is indeed 19-5530.
And AU-35 (A35-035 = 19-5508) with a nice tail marking of 77 Sqn.

Both had their first flight on Mar 8, 2021.


Tally.

[Worldnis]

Danish L-001 first flight today

F-35A L-001 is indeed 19-5530.
And AU-35 (A35-035 = 19-5508) with a nice tail marking of 77 Sqn.

Both had their first flight on Mar 8, 2021.


Tally.

The RAAF LRIP XIII for 15 F-35A (AU-34/AU-48) will then run until 19-5521
Leaving a gap for 8 (RNLAF) F-35A in LRIP XIII (19-5522/19-5529) as RNLAF is the only partner for 8 in this LRIP before arriving at 19-5530/19-5535 for 2 (previously XII) + 4 (XIII) RDAF F-35A.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

LRIP XIII not correct

LRIP I to XI
Lot 12
Lot 13
Lot 14...

[Hans van Herk]

LRIP XIII not correct

LRIP I to XI
Lot 12
Lot 13
Lot 14...

According to my knowledge we are still talking on the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP), running from LRIP I (or LRIP 1) to LRIP XIV (or LRIP 14).
After the latest LRIP, the Full Rate Production (FRP) starts with FRP 1, also known as batch or Lot XV (or 15)

Hans van Herk

[raameagle]

XI was the last LRIP. 12 onwards is referred to as LOT.
Regards
Mark

[Hans van Herk]

The Pentagon still did not approve Lockheed to go to FRP. Indeed batch XII (or 12) should have been the first FRP batch.
So technically these batches or Lots are still LRIP.

But it might be that Lockheed is now talking about Lot as this has a better "publicity" than LRIP

Regards,
Hans van Herk