Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

[seruriermarshal]

F-35B Dive Drop GBU-12

;D

 

[F-14D]

Hopefully I'm not duplicating someone else's post elsewhere...

FY13 DOT&E report on F-35: http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/FY2013/pdf/dod/2013f35jsf.pdf

 

[jsport]

http://www.au.af.mil/au/afri/aspj/digital/pdf/articles/2014-May-Jun/F-Pietrucha.pdf?source=GovD

 

[GTX]

Australian Air Force Makes Home at Luke AFB

The buildup of F-35 operations at Luke Air Force Base has begun, and the Royal Australian air force will soon be Luke’s first international partner to train here on the F-35A Lightning II.

The 61st Fighter Squadron and 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit will house the RAAF personnel. The goal is to build a cohesive, working understanding of the F-35A program with Luke’s international partners for increased success in joint operations.

“It’s one more step in the long road to making this aircraft combat capable,” said Capt. Dan Langan, 61st AMU officer in-charge.

“The idea is in future conflicts nobody is going to be going at it alone. We’ll have our allies with us. The idea behind this aircraft was to make it easier to operate with our multinational partners, understand the same tactics, operate with the same logistics base, and figuring out how to do that starts right here. We are laying the foundation and it’s pretty exciting to be on the ground floor of that effort.”

Luke will act as ground zero for international partners to build their expertise in F-35A operations. The RAAF is the first partner to start their spin-up operations and are expecting their first aircraft by the end of this year.

“We are really pleased to come in and be the first partner to stand up operations here,” said squadron leader Maj. Nathan Draper, 61st AMU participant maintenance liaison officer and RAAF senior officer. “We are pretty lucky to get to come here first.”

The RAAF plans to eventually have 14 aircraft at Luke, with their goal to have a complete working picture of U.S. Air Force F-35 operations, then return to the home base they are setting up for the F-35.

“One of the biggest things I hope to achieve is the successful transition of our aircraft from the production line to the Luke training environment and the commencement of training operations alongside our Air Force colleagues,” Draper said. “If we can do that in a safe and efficient streamlined manner, leveraging the Air Force processes and systems, it will be a pretty good day.”

The RAAF expects their first pilot to arrive at Luke the beginning of next year. Draper is part of an acquisition project called Joint Strike Fighter Division, and he now considers himself a team member of the 61st AMU.

“We have a really good, close working relationship with our colleges in the Air Force, and we are looking forward to the next few years of joint operations here,” he said.

Luke’s relationship with the RAAF goes back a long way. Air Marshal Mark Binskin, soon to be the top Australian Defence Force officer, was stationed at Luke in the late 80s.

Follow-on squadrons, to include the 62nd, are scheduled to bring in additional partner countries including Italy, Norway, Canada, Turkey and the Netherlands.

More here

 

[GTX]

Turkey to order first two F-35 fighter jets
Tue May 6, 2014 3:59pm EDT
By Tulay Karadeniz ANKARA May 6 (Reuters)

Turkey has decided to order two F-35 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp, the government said on Tuesday. It will be the first order of Turkey's pre-announced plan to purchase 100 F-35 jets for $16 billion, which had been expected to begin next year. The statement, from Turkey's undersecretary for state-run defence, said Turkey's commitment to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme "continues strong as ever." "In this context, Turkey continues her forecast of the acquisition of 100 F-35A aircraft as planned and declared previously."

Lockheed Martin, which has a market capitalisation of more than $52 billion, welcomed the news. "This decision confirms the value of acquiring a 5th Generation fighter capability and is testimony to the Turkish Government's confidence in the program," it said in a statement.

The programme, the Pentagon's most expensive arms development project, is about 70 percent over budget and years behind schedule, having been plagued by technical problems.

Sceptics say it still faces big challenges, including completing the software needed to integrate weapons on the jet.

 

[fightingirish]

NAVAIRSYSCOM - F-35 Lightning II Integrated Test Force 2013 Year in Review

Highlights of the flight test accomplishments by the Patuxent River F-35 Lightning II Integrated Test Force (ITF) in 2013. Video produced by the Pax River ITF Lockheed Martin Multimedia Team.

http://youtu.be/voUNeb_JzLY

http://youtu.be/voUNeb_JzLY

 

[seruriermarshal]

April Marks New F-35 Flying Records

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 8, 2014 – The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II aircraft fleet, which surpassed 16,000 cumulative program flight hours to date in April, flew a monthly record high for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) with 282 flight hours and 153 flights in April.

“The SDD fleet achieving more than 150 flights in one month speaks to the quality of this aircraft and the commitment of this team,” said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin's vice president for F-35 Test & Verification. “We’re nearly complete with Block 2B software flight science testing on the F-35As, and we’ll move forward with Block 3 software testing this summer. The SDD program is scheduled to complete Block 2B testing for the F-35B this year in support of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2015 with its F-35B fleet.”

In April, operational F-35s fleet-wide flew 812 hours, with SDD F-35 aircraft flying 282 flight hours in one month. In 2014, through April, F-35A test aircraft flew 420 hours; F-35B test aircraft flew 281 hours; and F-35C test aircraft flew 222 hours. Operational F-35s of all three variants flew 2,790 hours for the year.

Operational F-35s at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., flew 515 flight hours in April, and operational F-35 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., flew 172 hours. Eglin’s 33rd Fighter Wing is home to 48 F-35A/B/Cs and provides training for U.S. military and program partner nation pilots and maintenance personnel. Yuma is home to the Marine Corps’ first operational F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft.

Among the record SDD flights, the F-35B version completed its 700th vertical takeoff and landing sortie, and it began crosswind landings and expeditionary operations.

The F-35 Lightning II, a 5th generation fighter, combines advanced low observable stealth technology with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least 10 other countries. Following the U.S. Marine Corps’ 2015 IOC, the U.S. Air Force and Navy intend to declare IOC in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/may/140508ae_april-marks-new-f-35-flying-records.html

 

[GTX]

150th Aircraft Set for F35 Fighter Programme Completed

(Source: BAE Systems; issued May 8, 2014)

We have completed the manufacture of the 150th F-35 rear fuselage and tail set at our military aircraft factory in Samlesbury, Lancashire.

The 150th aircraft set, known as AF070, is a Conventional Take Off and Landing variant destined for the US Air Force. AF070 will be married up with the rest of the aircraft at Lockheed Martin’s assembly facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

150th aircraft set to leave our production facility

Jon Evans, Head of Production Delivery, F-35 at Samlesbury said: "AF070 is the 150th aircraft set to leave our production facility. The first 20 sets were development phase, the rest production aircraft. We are now producing aircraft sets at a rate of one every five days thanks to the multi-million pound investment we made in the Samlesbury site, so we’re well on the way to producing one set a day by 2018.

Mr Evans added: “If we continue as we have done over the past 10 years, not only do we sustain jobs in the long term for our 1000+ workforce, but we help make a significant contribution to the UK economy through the work created in the 500 British-based companies involved in the programme. With a potential requirement of 3000+ aircraft, the scale of this programme is huge.”

Collectively some 500+ UK companies are involved in the F-35 Lightning II programme, building 15 per cent of each F-35 produced. Over the next 40 years UK industry will continue to play a vital role in the F-35’s global production, follow-on development and sustainment, bringing strong economic benefits to the country and generating tens of thousands of jobs.

Our contribution

We are responsible for the production of each and every rear fuselage and tails set. Along with manufacturing aircrafts sets for each of the three variants, our UK business also produces carrier wing tips for the Carrier variant and Nozzle Bay Doors for the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing Variant. We also play a key role in vehicle and mission systems, life support system and prognostics health management integration. BAE Systems Inc. in the US add further key capabilities to the F-35 portfolio in the areas of electronic warfare, advance apertures, advanced counter-measure systems, vehicle management and active inceptor systems.

-ends-

And a couple of videos (one old and one new) related to the facility that produces the rear fuselage showing what modern aircraft production can look like.

http://youtu.be/K1DV7J0xyuc

http://youtu.be/y0WxflxXkh8

 

[RadicalDisconnect]

Not sure if this has been posted or not.

16K+ Flight Hours For F-35

The F-35 Lightning II aircraft fleet surpassed 16,000 cumulative flight hours through 30 April 2014. Test pilots at three locations flew a monthly record high 282 flight hours and 153 flights in April. In April, operational F-35s fleet-wide flew 812 hours. Cumulative totals for 2014 include 420 hours on F-35A test aircraft, 281 hours on F-35B test aircraft, and 222 hours on F-35C test jets. Operational F-35 pilots in all three variants have flown 2,790 hours for the year. Block 2B software flight science testing on the F-35A fleet is now nearly complete, and Block 3 software testing is expected to begin in mid 2014. Block 2B testing for the F-35B is expected to be completed later this year.

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/f35_news_item.html?item_id=1286

 

[RadicalDisconnect]

Found a nice picture of AF-41 on f-16.net. Have to say, the F-35's looks are slowly growing on me.

 

[sferrin]

Here's a higher rez for ya.

 

[RadicalDisconnect]

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=136

F-35 Flight Test Update 13

The previous F-35 Flight Test Update concluded with the first live guided missile launch from an F-35 on 30 October 2013. This first installment of 2014 and the thirteenth installment overall in the series of F-35 flight testing reviews presents a variety of subsequent weapon testing, including additional guided AIM-120 missile launches and guided GBU-32 drops for the F-35A, AIM-120 separation tests for the F-35C, and ten-weapon loads for the F-35A and F-35C. High angle of attack testing continued with the beginning of intentional departure tests of the F-35C at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division test facility at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The F-35 System Development and Demonstration Program set flight duration records and surpassed 4,000 total test flights during this period as well.

Here's a picture of AF-01 armed to the teeth.

 

[GTX]

Forecast International Analysts See Significant Breakthrough In Recent F-35 Orders

(Source: Forecast International, Inc.; issued May 12, 2014)

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- According to analysts at Forecast International, recent decisions by the Australian and Turkish governments are signaling a major upturn for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, undoubtedly the brightest star in the future military aircraft market.

In April, the Australian government approved the acquisition of an additional 58 F-35A aircraft. Following a 2009 decision to purchase 14 F-35As, the 58 additional fighters bring Australia's total approved F-35 buy to 72 aircraft. The government is also considering the acquisition of an additional F-35A squadron in the future, further increasing the country's F-35 buy.

On May 6, Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee tasked the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) with ordering the country's first two F-35A aircraft. The SSM will order the F-35As as part of the F-35 program's 10th low-rate initial production lot (LRIP 10). The Turkish government has also reconfirmed its long-term plans to acquire a total of at least 100 F-35As.

Like the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter of the 1950s and 1960s, and the Lockheed F-16 multirole fighter, first produced in the 1970s, the F-35 program is a multinational effort that, despite budget considerations and rising program costs, is attracting nations eager to operate the world's most advanced stealth aircraft. The recent Australian and Turkish announcements are welcome news to the F-35 program.

According to Forecast International aerospace analyst Raymond Jaworowski, "The Australian and Turkish decisions indicate that initial reluctance by customers to place early orders for the F-35 is dissipating."

Dan Darling, Europe/Asia-Pacific military markets analyst at Forecast International, commented, "Further boosts may come from a planned South Korean order for the F-35 and a likely purchase by Singapore."

Three versions of the next-generation F-35 fighter have been developed: the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version, the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft, and the F-35C carrier-based attack aircraft. The U.S. Air Force intends to acquire 1,763 F-35As, while the U.S. Marine Corps plans to procure 340 F-35Bs and 80 F-35Cs and the U.S. Navy intends to buy 260 F-35Cs.

The sheer size of the F-35 program dwarfs all competition. Forecast International projects that a total of 2,019 F-35s, worth an estimated $166 billion, will be produced over the 15-year period from 2014 through 2028 alone, with many more to flow off production lines thereafter. This initial total includes 1,499 F-35As, 325 F-35Bs, and 195 F-35Cs.

Forecast International aerospace analyst Douglas Royce said, "Our projections call for the F-35 to account for nearly 48 percent of the total fighter market over the next 15 years, a statistic that may well rise. Other fighter manufacturers are thus forced to compete for what is left, with the result that a number of other fighter production lines may well go dark during the next decade due to a lack of orders."

Forecast International aviation gas turbine analyst Will Alibrandi said, "The F-35 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine. Turkey's support for the F-35 program is substantiated by its plan to establish a final assembly and maintenance facility for the F135 engine in-country. This new facility could provide depot-level engine maintenance for all F-35 operators in the region. The engines for Turkey's first F-35As will be produced in the U.S. by Pratt & Whitney, while engines for the planned fleet of 100 aircraft will eventually be assembled at the new facility in Turkey."

Alibrandi continued, "As the sole supplier for the F-35's engine, Pratt & Whitney stands to win big. Indeed, Forecast International expects that F135 production, including spares, will top 2,485 through 2028 and add some $27.3 billion to the engine manufacturer's coffers -- with much more to follow."

Aerospace analyst Jaworowski summed it up dramatically, "The F-35's market potential is outstanding! Nearly any nation that currently operates F-16s, F/A-18s, or AV-8B Harrier IIs is a potential F-35 customer."


Forecast International, Inc. is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide.

-ends-

 

[GTX]

F-35 Flies First Training Sortie At Luke AFB

(Source: U.S Air Force; issued May 13, 2014


LUKE AFB, Ariz. --- An F-35 Lightning II took to the sky over the West Valley here, May 5, in what was the first local training sortie for the fifth-generation fighter jet.

The jet is currently the only F-35 at Luke Air Force Base, with additional jets expected to arrive within the next few weeks.

"The ability to conduct local flight operations demonstrates the commitment by thousands of individuals who have worked to make this a reality," said Lt. Col. Michael Ebner, the 61st Fighter Squadron commander. "Our first sortie this week represents a significant milestone in the F-35 program at Luke (AFB)."

There are currently six F-35 pilots assigned to the 61st FS. There will eventually be approximately 30 pilots by the time the squadron is up to full capacity.

The 61st FS coordinates with the 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, which maintains the aircraft, to fly the jet when it is available -- which, as of this week, is approximately 1-2 times per day. That number could increase to 2-4 sorties a day by next month, when more jets are expected at Luke AFB, Ebner said.

Construction, much of which is sub-contracted locally, continues on base to prepare for the arrival of additional F-35s.

The Academic Training Center, which will house classrooms and 12 F-35 simulators, is under construction and is expected to be completed in late September. Construction is also underway on the combined Operations/AMU building for the second F-35 squadron.

Other projects, including the third Operations/AMU building, a maintainer training facility and a four-bay F-35 hangar are also in planning stages.

-ends-

 

[GTX]

Jump jets on Defence radar
NICK BUTTERLY CANBERRA
The West Australian
May 17, 2014, 2:10 am

Australia could buy "jump-jet" Joint Strike Fighters to base aboard new landing ships, giving the nation its first aircraft carrier since the early 1980s.

Defence Minister David Johnston told The Weekend West _the Government was considering buying the "B" model of the F-35 - a specialised variant of the stealth jet being built to operate from aircraft carriers.

Last month, Australia committed to buying 72 of the conventional model F-35s from US aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin at a cost of almost $20 billion.

But the Government has left the door open to buying more F-35s and the minister says the F-35B will be considered.

"Now that aircraft is more expensive, does not have the range but it's an option that has been considered from day one," Senator Johnston said.

The F-35B has a shortened take-off distance and can land vertically, just like the legendary Harrier jump jet.

The British Navy and the US Marines are buying the F-35B to station aboard aircraft carriers.

Australia is soon to bring into service two large ships called landing helicopter docks. Though they resemble small aircraft carriers, the Government has maintained until now they would be used only to deploy helicopters and troops.

Senator Johnston said stationing the F-35 aboard an LHD would be costly and technically challenging, but it could be done.

"The deck strength is there for such an aircraft," he said.

The Hawke government mothballed Australia's last aircraft carrier, HMAS Melbourne, in 1982.

Commissioning an aircraft carrier is considered a significant strategic statement of military might by a country.

China recently launched its first aircraft carrier. The sea trials are being watched closely.

The F-35B has less range than the conventional F-35 owing to the complex systems of jets used to allow it to land vertically.

The B variant has been the most trouble-plagued of the three F-35 models. Testing was stalled this year after cracks were discovered in the aircrafts' bulkheads.

The F-35 will replace Australia's fleet of F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet aircraft, due to be withdrawn in 2022.

 

[bobbymike]

First JSF Engine Delivered To Italian Facility for Final Assembly

EAST HARTFORD, CT. -- Lockheed Martin's new F-35 Final Assembly Check Out facility in Italy has taken delivery of its first F135 engine as international participation in the Joint Strike Fighter program ramps up, according to engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.

 

[bobbymike]

F135 Stands Up Against Ballistic Damage

​The F135 propulsion system, which powers the F-35 strike fighter, stood up well against ballistic damage during a series of live fire tests, performing, in many cases, “better than predicted,” according to a report by the Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office. A total of three F135 tests were conducted, including “short takeoff vertical landing propulsion system tests, dynamic and static engine ballistic tests, and total fuel ingestion tests,” announced manufacturer Pratt & Whitney in a May 20 release. The testing team found that “damage to blades and vanes in both the lift fan and main engine did not result in the catastrophic corn-cobbing often seen when gas path components are damaged,” states the report. In addition, “the control system is very capable in accommodating damage and providing information to the pilot.” The series of tests were designed to “mimic battlefield damage,” said Cheryl Lobo, director of Pratt & Whitney F135 programs. “The F135 is an amazing propulsion system that has proved its durability through this very rigorous testing … These tests should provide confidence in the capabilities of the propulsion system for our operations,” said Lobo.


5/21/2014

 

[seruriermarshal]

Turkey, Pratt & Whitney agree on fighter engine center

20 May 2014

ANKARA - Turkey's Under-secretariat for Defense Industries and American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney have signed a letter of intent for the establishment of an F135 engines center for F35 fighter jets in Turkey.

The deal covers the final assembly, check and maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade capabilities for the engines in Turkey and has been approved by the US government.

The Turkish Under-secretariat for Defense Industries said in a statement on Tuesday that the “letter of intent is an important milestone of a long-term cooperation between the Undersecretariat and Pratt & Whitney and also shows Turkey’s commitment to a Joint Strike Fighter Program, as well as Pratt & Whitney’s trust in Turkish capabilities.”

"Turkey’s primary aim is to provide benefit to the program by assembling F135 engines and providing service to the F-35 users in the region via these facilities," the statement said.

Turkey has had much experience in fighter engine handling from an F-16 Program and has a long-term vision to sustain the experience and provide benefits to the F-35 program.

Turkey, which has been in the Joint Strike Fighter program from the Concept Development Phase, has contributed to System Development and Demonstration and Production Sustainment and Follow-on Development phases as a partner nation.

Turkey has recently placed an order for the first two F-35 jets of a fleet of 100 F-35A aircraft on 5 May of this year, and plans to deploy the aircraft in Turkey by 2019.

http://www.turkishpress.com/news/407042/

 

[seruriermarshal]

;D Typhoon & F-35B

 

[GTX]

White Paper to consider F-35Bs for LHDs – report
by australianaviation.com.au at 7:14 pm, Friday May 23 2014

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has instructed the authors of the new Defence White Paper currently in preparation to consider the acquisition of the STOVL F-35B variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to operate from the Navy’s forthcoming LHD amphibious ships.

“It is understood Mr ­Abbott has instructed planners working on his defence white paper to examine the possibility of putting a squadron of 12 of the short takeoff and vertical landing version of the JSFs — the F-35B — on to the ships,” a report in The Australian newspaper on Friday says.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister contacted by the newspaper did not confirm or deny the suggestion the F-35B would be considered as part of the White Paper process, only noting that the White Paper’s Force Structure Review would: “examine a range of capabilities and will provide the government with options to ensure Australia maintains a sustainable, versatile and highly capable defence force in coming decades”.

However, on April 23 when Prime Minister Abbott announced the decision to acquire a further 58 F-35As for the RAAF to take the total buy to 72, he made passing reference to the fact that the F-35 variant slated to be acquired for a final batch of up to 28 jets (to replace the Super Hornet) some time next decade had not yet been determined.

“We are certainly retaining the option to purchase an additional squadron – a further 18 Joint Strike Fighters and we haven’t decided precisely what type it might be – that will be something that will be looked at in the context of the coming Defence White Paper,” the PM said. While at the time RAAF officials explained to Australian Aviation that the figure of 18 aircraft was a slip of the tongue and should have been 28 jets, but the comment about “what type it might be” went largely unnoticed at the time.

But the question of F-35Bs being acquired for the ADF was subsequently flagged by Defence Minister David Johnston in an interview with The Weekend West on May 17, where he said the acquisition of the F-35B was “an option which has been considered from day one.”

 

[fightingirish]

;D Typhoon & F-35B

Source: http://www.jsf.mil/gallery/gal_photo_sdd_f35btest.htm
Picture probably taken over Edwards AFB on April 4th, 2014


Edit:
More pictures at SNAFU!'s blog:
http://snafu-solomon.blogspot.de/2014/05/f-35-flies-with-two-typhoons.html

 

[bobbymike]

Navy F135 Engine Tweaks Could Help USAF

Hartford, Conn.—A fuel efficiency push on Navy versions of the Joint Strike Fighter’s F135 engine could benefit USAF’s version as well, Pratt & Whitney next-generation fighter engine chief James Kenyon said. At a company press conference, Kenyon told Air Force Magazine that the Navy’s Fuel Burn Reduction Program, now underway, is a major effort to improve the engine by allowing it to run hotter while using five percent less fuel. Testing in 2016 is expected to certify the technology mature enough to cut it into production thereafter. “It’ll be up to the government to determine how they would use that, but it absolutely would be applicable to all three variants,” he said. Kenyon acknowledged that the push has been to keep the F135 powerplants as common as possible. “That certainly has been the strategy to date,” he said, adding it likely will be “until (it) … doesn’t make sense anymore.” The fact that “there are going to be a lot” of F-35s around the world, with a 40-year lifespan, means “the impetus to push product improvements into that engine (are) … huge, and there are a lot of opportunities to do that.” Kenyon said P&W is working on a number of technologies that could be inserted into the F135 in the future, but replacing the engine “wholesale” would likely only be pursued if “there’s a really overwhelming requirement to do that.” Technology, he said, “marches on, and that’s not true just for us, but for our adversaries.”
—John A. Tirpak
5/27/2014

 

[Arjen]

Spain ponders 70 million euro plan to extend AV-8B service life to beyond 2025, F-35B purchase 'on hold'.
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/154245/spain-drops-plan-to-buy-f_35b%2C-will-upgrade-av_8bs-instead.html

The F-35: parked

Today, the only short/vertical takeoff aircraft that fits the requirements of the Spanish navy is the US-made F-35B Lightning, an aircraft that the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy, which, together with Spain, are the leading world-wide operators of the Harrier, have already written into their acquisition plans.

According to Spanish Navy sources consulted by El Confidential Online, the F-35B "continues to be an unattainable aspiration in economic terms." In 2010, the Navy headquarters announced that it intended to procure 15 to 20 of these aircraft. These plans have now been parked indefinitely.

However, according to the navy sources, the Navy command nonetheless managed to outline a financial plan that would have allowed it to buy a few F-35Bs, but it was finally shot down by the Defence staff because of its cost.

One of the options being considered for the future is that, once the US takes these STOVL aircraft into service, it could hand over a few of them to Spain until the Spanish economy improves enough to allows the purchase of an F-35B package of its own. Today, the cost of an F-35B would be approximately EUR 130 million each

http://www.elconfidencialdigital.com/defensa/Adios-compra-F-35-Espana-Harrier_0_2279172074.html

El F-35, aparcado
A día de hoy, el único avión de despegue vertical (STOVL) que encaja dentro de los requisitos de la marina española es el estadounidense F-35B. Un avión que Estados Unidos, Reino Unido e Italia –principales operadores del Harrier junto a España- ya han encargado para el futuro.
Según fuentes de la Armada consultadas por El Confidencial Digital, el F-35B “continúa siendo una aspiración inalcanzable en términos económicos” indican. En 2010, desde el Cuartel General de la Armada se anunció la intención de hacerse con entre 15 y 20 de estos aparatos. Unos planes que han quedado finalmente aparcados por tiempo indefinido.
Sin embargo, según explican las fuentes consultadas en la Armada, se llegaron a establecer las líneas maestras de un plan financiero para acometer la compra de algunos F-35B. Las soluciones, dicen, nofueron del agrado de Defensa, que optó por no aprobarlas.
Una de las opciones que se barajan de cara al futuro es que Estados Unidos –una vez tenga en servicio estos aparatos STOVL- arrende a España alguno de ellos hasta que la economía permita la compra de un paquete de F-35B, que actualmente estarían en torno a los 130 millones de euros la unidad.

 

[GTX]

F-35 Achieves Three Major Flight Test Milestones On Same Day

(Source: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company; issued May 29, 2014)

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Md. -- In three separate flight tests on May 27th, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft demonstrated air-to-air combat capability, completed the first flight test with the next level software load and accomplished a landing at the maximum test speed and drop rate.

In the Point Mugu Sea Test Range airspace off the Central California coast, an F-35B demonstrated the jet's air-to-air combat capability when it sequentially engaged two aerial targets with two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) during a Weapon Delivery Accuracy mission.

Test pilot Lt. Col. Andrew 'Growler' Allen tracked two maneuvering drone targets, making the very first dual AMRAAM shot from any F-35 variant, and the first live AMRAAM shot from the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.

"The U.S. Marine Corps, which operates F-35Bs, will be the first military service branch to attain combat-ready Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2015," said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin's vice president for F-35 Test & Verification. "This Weapon Delivery Accuracy test highlighted the air combat capability that will give Marine aviators a decisive combat edge in contested airspace."

The F-35's internally-carried AIM-120 AMRAAMs are a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations and considered a "fire-and-forget" missile using active target radar guidance.

Flying from Edwards Air Force Base, an F-35A flew a 1.9 hour mission with the first-ever load of Block 3i hardware and software. Block 3i is the next level of capability and is planned to support U.S. Air Force F-35A IOC in 2016.

The F-35C, designed for aircraft carrier operations, completed a landing at its maximum sink speed to test the aircraft's landing gear, airframe and arrestment system at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. "Five sorties were conducted, building up the maximum sink rate test condition of 21.4 feet per second, which represents the maximum sink speed planned for this test," McFarlan said. During the tests, the F-35C did three arrestments, several touch and goes and one bolter. The landings were to demonstrate structural readiness for arrested landings on an aircraft carrier at sea.

Fleet-wide, the F-35 has, to date, amassed more than 17,000 flight hours. All three variant aircraft at the F-35 Integrated Training Center at Eglin AFB, Florida, surpassed the 5,000 sorties milestone this week.

The F-35 Lightning II, a 5th generation fighter, combines advanced low observable stealth technology with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least 10 other countries. Following the U.S. Marine Corps' planned 2015 IOC, the U.S. Air Force and Navy intend to attain IOC in 2016 and 2018, respectively.


Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion. (ends)

33rd Fighter Wing Surpasses 5,000 Combined F-35 Sorties

(Source: US Air Force; issued May 29, 2014)

EGLIN AFB, Fla --- The 33rd Fighter Wing etched another mark on the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter program May 28 by logging its 5,000th combined sortie in the F-35.

The F-35 Integrated Training Center at the wing flies a third of all F-35 sorties in the Department of Defense program. More than 15,000 sorties have been flown across all variants of the fifth generation multirole stealth fighter.

"Our team knows they are leading the way in putting the F-35 through its paces and developing the cadre that will establish the F-35's role in air dominance," said Col. Todd Canterbury, the 33rd FW commander. "The men and women here advance the ball down the line every day, and we see that in the number of sorties generated and students trained."

The maturity of the F-35 program at Eglin was echoed this week, he said.

Also this week, the Air Force's 58th Fighter Squadron welcomed its 26th and final F-35A delivery scheduled in the current environmental impact study.

The F-35 ITC is responsible for F-35 A/B/C Lightning II pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force and, in the future, at least eight international partners.

-ends-

 

[bring_it_on]

;D Typhoon & F-35B

Source: http://www.jsf.mil/gallery/gal_photo_sdd_f35btest.htm
Picture probably taken over Edwards AFB on April 4th, 2014


Edit:
More pictures at SNAFU!'s blog:
http://snafu-solomon.blogspot.de/2014/05/f-35-flies-with-two-typhoons.html

Original high rez here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/

 

[seruriermarshal]

F-35A AM-1 for Norway !

 

[seruriermarshal]

JSM for F-35 ;D

 

[bobbymike]

Eglin Reaches Full F-35A Complement

The last of 26 Air Force F-35A strike fighters slated for delivery to the F-35 joint schoolhouse at Eglin AFB, Fla., joined the 33rd Fighter Wing there. "The arrival of AF-45 is an incredible milestone for the Air Force as we move closer to F-35A initial operational capability in 2016," said 33rd FW Commander Col. Todd Canterbury in a June 2 base release. "Having our full end strength grants our pilots and maintainers more flexibility in training, and that flexibility lets us advance the F-35 program at a faster rate than ever before," he added. In addition to the 26 Air Force jets, the schoolhouse currently hosts 12 Marine Corps F-35Bs, and six Navy F-35Cs, wing spokeswoman 1st Lt. Grace Cronin told Air Force Magazine on Wednesday. With the two Dutch F-35As and three British F-35Bs, Eglin currently boasts 49 strike fighters. The Navy plans to get another nine F-35Cs by next spring, bringing the F-35 fleet there close to the 59-aircraft limit imposed by Eglin's current permitting, noted Cronin.
—Arie Church
6/5/2014

 

[GTX]

F-35 Lightning II Aircraft Demonstrates Air-To-Air Combat Capability

(Source: 412th Test Wing Public Affairs; issued June 4, 2014)

EDWARDS AFB, Calif. --- In the Point Mugu Sea Test Range airspace off the Central California coast, an F-35B demonstrated the jet's air-to-air combat capability when it sequentially engaged two aerial targets with two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles during a Weapon Delivery Accuracy mission.

Test pilot and 461st Flight Test Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Andrew Allen, tracked two maneuvering drone targets, making the very first dual AMRAAM shot from any F-35 variant, and the first live AMRAAM shot from the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.

"The U.S. Marine Corps, which operates F-35Bs, will be the first military service branch to attain combat-ready Initial Operational Capability in 2015," said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin's vice president for F-35 Test & Verification. "This Weapon Delivery Accuracy test highlighted the air combat capability that will give Marine aviators a decisive combat edge in contested airspace."

The F-35's internally-carried AIM-120 AMRAAMs are a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations and considered a "fire-and-forget" missile using active target radar guidance.

Also flying out of Edwards AFB, an F-35A flew a 1.9 hour mission with the first-ever load of Block 3i hardware and software. Block 3i is the next level of capability and is planned to support U.S. Air Force F-35A Initial Operating Capability in 2016.

The two flight tests out of Edwards May 27 were part of three F-35 major milestones on the same day.

On the East Coast, the F-35C, designed for aircraft carrier operations, completed a landing at its maximum sink speed to test the aircraft's landing gear, airframe and arrestment system at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. "Five sorties were conducted, building up the maximum sink rate test condition of 21.4 feet per second, which represents the maximum sink speed planned for this test," McFarlan said. During the tests, the F-35C did three arrestments, several touch and goes and one bolter. The landings were to demonstrate structural readiness for arrested landings on an aircraft carrier at sea.

Fleet-wide, the F-35 has, to date, amassed more than 17,000 flight hours.

-ends-

 

[GTX]

Exclusive: Canadian review will recommend buying Lockheed F-35 fighter jet - sources
BY ANDREA SHALAL
WASHINGTON Thu Jun 5, 2014 4:54pm EDT

(Reuters) - Canada is poised to buy 65 Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, sources familiar with the process told Reuters, marking a major renewal of Canada's fighter fleet and helping contain costs of the expensive defense program.

An 18-month review of Canada's fighter jet needs has concluded that the government should skip a new competition and proceed with the C$9 billion ($8.22 billion) purchase, three sources said.

The decision must still be finalized by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet and could trigger a fresh storm of criticism from opposition politicians over costs that derailed the purchase two years ago.

A spokesman for Harper's office said there was nothing to announce yet.

However, the sources said the recommendation was expected to lead to formal approval of the F-35 purchase. They said Harper and key cabinet members supported the decision.

Canada's planned purchase is the 6th-largest by a country and would further safeguard the $399 billion program. Its rising costs had sparked fears of a "death spiral," in which countries cut plane orders, driving up the price of remaining planes and triggering further cancellations. (Full Story)

The Pentagon recently estimated the average price per plane at $139 million, about twice the original estimate in 2001, but said the projected cost to operate and maintain the jets was down 9 percent from earlier estimates.

Ottawa announced in 2010 it would buy 65 jets but scrapped the decision in late 2012 after an official watchdog said Canadian officials had grossly downplayed the high cost of maintaining and operating the jets.

The Canadian government then launched a multi-agency examination to determine whether to buy the F-35 or launch a new competition. That review has found that the F-35 is the only warplane that meets the government's needs, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly.

A four-member panel of outside experts set up to ensure the objectivity and impartiality of the Canadian review also is expected to give its blessing to the process in coming weeks and may make its own recommendation that Ottawa proceed with buying the F-35, said one of the sources.

ANNOUNCEMENT DUE SOON

The Canadian government has said it will make an announcement in coming weeks, around the time the Canadian Parliament is dismissed for the summer.

Public Works Minister Diane Finley declined comment on Tuesday about the timing of a decision.

“Once we have made a decision we will announce it, and the reports will be released,” she said.

The recommendation to proceed with the F-35 purchase was expected, the sources said, in part because the cost of each plane has recently declined. Other factors seen as influencing the outcome of the review was the decision by Japan, South Korea and other countries to buy the jet. Canadian firms could win up to $11 billion in potential business orders linked to the program, they said.

Canada would be the 11th foreign country to buy the jet. It was one of the original nine partners on the F-35 program, contributing $150 million to its development costs.

One of the reports completed as part of the review showed that a new tender would take three years to complete, which would force the Canadian Air Force to spend about $20 million per plane to keep its fleet of older Boeing CF-18 "Hornets" flying, according to a source familiar with the findings.

Russia's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine, which has created tensions with European countries, the United States and Canada, also underscored Canada's need for a fifth-generation stealth fighter, said two of the sources.

The F-35 is designed to be the next-generation fighter jet for decades to come. No other new fighters are in the pipeline and the warplane fleets of the United States and Canada are aging.

Canada's participation in the program would help Washington drive down costs, which U.S. officials say are finally heading lower after rising 70 percent over initial estimates.

The total cost of the F-35, the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program, is now estimated at $1.42 trillion, down about 6 percent from $1.50 trillion from last year, including research, development, procurement and operations through 2065.

A spokesman for the Pentagon's F-35 program office said officials were awaiting Canada's decision and understood the country's need to revisit the decision process.

But it would spell more bad news for rival bidders, including Boeing Co BA.N, which is urgently looking for orders to keep its F/A-18 production line running past 2016. Boeing argued that its fighter would be cheaper for Canada to buy and operate. The Eurofighter Typhoon and Rafale fighters, both European planes, were also in the running.

Lockheed spokesman Mike Rein said the company supports the Canadian government's process in determining the best way to replace its CF-18s.

Boeing declined to comment.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by David Ljunggren and Randall; Palmer in Ottawa; Editing by Alwyn Scott and Ross Colvin)

Source

 

[bobbymike]

http://breakingdefense.com/2014/06/a-gods-eye-view-of-the-battlefield-gen-hostage-on-the-f-35/ ;D

http://breakingdefense.com/2014/06/gen-mike-hostage-on-the-f-35-no-growlers-needed-when-war-starts/

 

[GTX]

F-35 purchase decision expected next week in report
Sole-source purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 believed to be favoured
By James Cudmore, CBC News Posted: Jun 05, 2014 8:30 PM ET Last Updated: Jun 05, 2014 8:30 PM ET

Senior sources inside the Canadian defence and aerospace industry are girding themselves for a government decision next week that they believe is almost sure to favour the controversial F-35.

CBC News has learned the Conservative government is expected to make a final decision as soon as next Tuesday, followed soon after by an announcement that will put an end to the debate about whether to hold a competition to buy new fighter planes or to renew the $45-billion plan to sole-source the purchase of F-35s.

After a storm of controversy before the 2011 election, the Conservative government took steps to distance itself from the decision and set up a secretariat of senior bureaucrats to manage a review of the purchase and help determine a way forward.

The government also hired a panel of experts to conduct a review of the available fighter jet options, including the F-35, and file a public report on the choices.

That report is now complete and has been handed to government, but Public Works Minister Diane Finley has so far refused to make it public as promised.

A source familiar with the review suggested Lockheed Martin's F-35 could very well be the winner, and another source says the independent review did not take sides and therefore could allow the government to conclude the F-35 was still the way to go.

A Reuters report on Thursday written by a reporter based in Washington, D.C., said the review recommends the government skip a competition and proceed directly to a buy of the F-35.

But in response to that article, a source familiar with the file told CBC News the decision has not yet been taken and that the review has not been finalized.

Source

 

[GTX]

Northrop Grumman Delivers 150th Center Fuselage for F-35 Lightning II

(Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation; issued June 5, 2014)

PALMDALE, Calif. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) has marked another significant production milestone for the F-35 Lightning II program by delivering its 150th center fuselage to F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin (LMT). The center fuselage is the core structure around which the aircraft is built.

Designated AF-68, the center fuselage was delivered June 2. It is the 50th such unit Northrop Grumman has delivered in the last 15 months. The company's first 100 center fuselages took approximately eight and half years from program start to complete.

"The delivery of AF-68 represents Northrop Grumman's steady progress reducing the production time for the F-35 center fuselage," said Brian Chappel, vice president and F-35 program manager, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "It also maintains the company's perfect record of on-time deliveries of center fuselages from our Palmdale manufacturing center to Lockheed Martin."

AF-68 will be integrated into a conventional takeoff and landing variant at Lockheed Martin's F-35 final assembly facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The jet will be delivered to the U.S. Air Force.

Chappel attributes Northrop Grumman's steady increase in center fuselage production rates to the company's Integrated Assembly Line (IAL), which was opened in Palmdale in March 2011 to improve quality, reduce costs and shorten F-35 center fuselage assembly times.

"We're working closely with our customers, our suppliers and our employees to identify small changes in our assembly practices that will increase F-35 affordability while maintaining excellent quality," said Chappel. "Every minute, every dollar we save on the IAL helps reduce F-35 costs while speeding the jet's availability to the warfighter."

The Northrop Grumman-developed IAL makes heavy use of robotics and automation. It allows the company to produce F-35 center fuselages with levels of engineering precision, quality and manufacturing efficiency that are not achievable using conventional manual production methods.

As a principal member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 industry team, Northrop Grumman performs a significant share of the work required to develop and produce all three variants of the jet. In addition to producing the F-35 center fuselage, the company designed and produces the aircraft's radar and other key avionics including electro-optical and communications subsystems; develops mission systems and mission-planning software; leads the team's development of pilot and maintenance training system courseware; and manages the team's use, support and maintenance of low-observable technologies.


Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company that provides innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.

-ends-

 

[bobbymike]

F-35 LRIP 8 Deal Expected Soon

The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin should reach agreement “in the summer timeframe” on a price for Lot 8 low-rate initial production of F-35 strike fighters, said Lorraine Martin, the company’s F-35 program manager, on Monday. She also suggested the deal could be announced as soon as the Farnborough Air Show, which takes place July 14-20 outside of London. At the company’s June 9 media day in Arlington, Va., Martin said “we do expect each LRIP lot will cost less” than the one before it. Lots 6 and 7, which the parties negotiated last year, established prices four percent lower, respectively, than the preceding lots. Asked about prospects for a Farnborough announcement, Martin said, “I like to get things behind me … as quickly as possible.”
—John A. Tirpak
6/10/2014

 

[bobbymike]

No Growling Needed

The F-35 is beating the stealthiness expected of it “at maturity,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program manager. Officials must still verify this claim “with more data,” she told reporters on June 9 during a company-sponsored media day in Arlington, Va. She noted that Air Combat Command chief Gen. Mike Hostage recently told Breaking Defense that the F-35 needs no jamming support from other aircraft, such as Boeing’s EF-18G Growler, in a heavily defended battlespace to “go where it needs to go.” Hostage said the F-35 actually has better stealth than the F-22. “I can’t say some of those things” due to classification, commented Martin, but she said Hostage accurately represented the F-35’s capabilities. The Growler and similar platforms are going to be “helpful” if there are “fourth generation aircraft … and they need some protection,” but the F-35 has “all the stealth we said it would have,” and can “get in and get out safely with the electronic warfare it has on it,” she asserted. The F-35’s stealth is checked as it exits production and again just before government acceptance. “And, after we fly it a few months, we put it back through the [stealth test] range and verify the stealth is still there,” said Martin.
—John A. Tirpak
6/11/2014


F-35 Mini Deployment

Three F-35B aircraft—two Marine Corps and one British—will deploy to the Farnborough Airshow outside London and the preceding Royal International Air Tattoo in Gloucestershire, England, in July, said Lockheed Martin F-35 Vice President Lorraine Martin. This marks the first time an F-35 of any variant has participated in an international airshow. “It will be a great opportunity to practice” deployment skills, Martin told reporters at a company-sponsored media day on June 9 in Arlington Va. The aircraft will likely make the trip from MCAS Beaufort, S.C., refueled en route by KC-10 tankers. The team deploying will have to take spare parts, enough pilots and maintainers, and elements of the ALIS maintenance system to turn the aircraft for a combined eight flying demonstrations. The show routine is expected to be quite similar to that flown by the AV-8B Harrier, with a high- and low-speed pass, slowdown to hover and land, vertical takeoff, then rapid acceleration and flyaway. The cost of displaying the aircraft will be borne collectively by Lockheed Martin, the Marine Corps, and Britain, said Martin. It counts as a “US military deployment” for the purposes of cost bookkeeping, she said.
—John A. Tirpak
6/11/2014

 

[SpudmanWP]

The show routine is expected to be quite similar to that flown by the AV-8B Harrier, with a high- and low-speed pass, slowdown to hover and land, vertical takeoff, then rapid acceleration and flyaway.

Holy Scoops Batman... a couple of weeks ago they were talking about not doing a VL since it had not been cleared for rough field VL yet.

Now we are saying a VL and more importantly a VTO?

 

[sferrin]

Not to go OT but my interpretation is that the comment was more along the lines of, "this is what the Harrier does so that's probably what the F-35B will do" rather than an insight into the actual planned routine.

 

[bring_it_on]

The demo should be fairly similar to the one at Cherry point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRGHXjF4BcY

 

[seruriermarshal]

F-35A AU-1 For Australia ;D

RAAF F-35A AU-1 revealed

Item by australianaviation.com.au at 5:22 pm, Wednesday June 11 2014

Images of the RAAF’s first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II being towed from the production line to the paint facility have been revealed.

The aircraft, dubbed AU-1 and appearing in primer colours, is due to be officially rolled out in July and delivered to the USAF’s Integrated Training Center at Luke AFB in Arizona later this year.

 

[GTX]

UPDATE 2-Panel backs Canada evaluation process for jet fighter replacement
Thu Jun 12, 2014 2:33pm EDT
By Cameron French

(Reuters) - Four independent experts endorsed on Thursday the Canadian military's evaluation of options to replace its aging fleet of fighter jets, setting the stage for the government to decide whether or not to go ahead with previous plans to buy F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

Ottawa scrapped its plan to buy 65 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35s in 2012, after an official watchdog said officials had grossly downplayed the cost of maintaining and operating the jets.

The military's review of potential options is part of a multi-agency government process to determine the best way to replace Canada's aging fleet of CF-18 fighters, and the four-member panel was struck to oversee the military's review and lend credibility to the process.

In a 38-page report, the panel said the military's evaluation process was thorough, comprehensive, conducted professionally and not biased in favor of any of the four aircraft the government is considering.

"The simple bottom line is that we have provided ministers with assurance that the evaluation was rigorous and impartial and the results are comprehensive and understandable," Keith Coulter, panel member and former head of Canada's electronic surveillance agency, CSEC, told reporters at a briefing.

The panel, which also consists of two other retired civil servants and a university professor, did not issue its own recommendation for whether the government should proceed with the F-35 purchase, worth an estimated C$9 billion ($8.29 billion), or launch an open competition.

A senior Canadian government official at the briefing said no decision has been made by the government.

In addition to the F-35, the military has evaluated Boeing Co's F-18 E/F Super Hornet, the Eurofighter Typhoon, built by BAE Systems Plc, and the Rafale, made by Dassault Aviation SA.

The government official at the briefing said there was no timetable for a decision.

Sources close to the process have told Reuters the government's multi-agency review has recommended Canada buy the F-35s. The decision must still be finalized by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet.

If Canada goes ahead with the F-35 purchase, it will be the 6th-largest by a country and would further safeguard the $399 billion Joint Strike Fighter program.

The Pentagon recently estimated the average price per plane at $139 million, about twice the original estimate in 2001, but said the projected costs to operate the maintain the jets was down 9 percent from earlier estimates.