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

F-35 project in Weeze – the first tools arrive
In Weeze, Rheinmetall will in future manufacture at least 400 center fuselage sections for the world's most advanced fighter jet, the F-35. Production is scheduled to begin in July 2025. Since January, heavy haulage transports from the USA have been arriving at the new plant next to Weeze Airport – a total of around 35 in all. In a few days, the installation of the Northrop Grumman machines will begin in the factory. We have captured the delivery of the very first parts, packed in packages of around 5 tons, in the video.
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Video:
View: https://youtu.be/t_2SayC1BIk?si=tqeVtCbeFYaLFdo2

Link:
Code: 
https://youtu.be/t_2SayC1BIk?si=tqeVtCbeFYaLFdo2
FYI, the airport Weeze was formerly known as RAF Laarbruch.
 
defence-industry.eu

Pistorius confirms Germany’s F-35 procurement plans, emphasises transatlantic cooperation

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has confirmed that Berlin remains fully committed to purchasing Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole combat aircraft.
defence-industry.eu defence-industry.eu

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has confirmed that Berlin remains fully committed to purchasing Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole combat aircraft. Speaking on 21 March to Tagesschau, Pistorius rejected any suggestion that Germany might reconsider the acquisition, stating that the United States remains a key defence partner.
 
"The Commander of the Finnish Air Force, Major General Timo Herranen, visited Lockheed Martin’s F-35 assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas, on 20 March"
That might be news.... but also, he "signed the bulkhead of Finland’s fourth aircraft (JF-504) at the assembly line."
So, the Finnish F-35 will carry codes that start from JF-501, with the "JF" prefix apparently derived from Joint Strike Fighter.

https://www.facebook.com/Ilmavoimat/posts/pfbid0NyaZEmmSdkdMzm1PA4cHrbxJhfd1fxkpJpwF7XZnMdhimBhTsLyT6ZQUXQWq4m7Yl
View: https://www.facebook.com/Ilmavoimat/posts/pfbid0NyaZEmmSdkdMzm1PA4cHrbxJhfd1fxkpJpwF7XZnMdhimBhTsLyT6ZQUXQWq4m7Yl
 
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It isn't a typo since the original article in The Times talks about them being conventional takeoff instead of the F-35B. It also discusses the use of B61 nuclear bombs, which are only certified on the A variant.

Whether The Times' sources are right or not is another matter. But it isn't exactly the first time it's been hinted that the RAF would prefer the F-35A over more Typhoons.
 
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There also seems to be an interest in having a tactical nuclear capability based on the UK, based on updates to RAF Lakenheath. I do not know if this could be connected to RAF F-35s; I did not think there can be nuclear sharing without violating NPT. Does NPT perhaps not ban transfers if the state a nuclear weapon is being transferred to is already nuclear? That would allow for tactical weapons to be jointly operated by the U.S. and UK.
 
Josh_TN said:
There also seems to be an interest in having a tactical nuclear capability based on the UK, based on updates to RAF Lakenheath. I do not know if this could be connected to RAF F-35s; I did not think there can be nuclear sharing without violating NPT. Does NPT perhaps not ban transfers if the state a nuclear weapon is being transferred to is already nuclear? That would allow for tactical weapons to be jointly operated by the U.S. and UK.
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Non-nuclear states are already part of NATO's nuclear sharing programme, that is the primary reason why Germany is buying the F-35 for instance. Technically/legally speaking the idea is that these remain US weapons maintained by US personnel so there isn't a transfer until the moment the things have to be dropped. If it ever came to that no one will be caring about the NPT anyway...
 
Broken said:
It isn't a typo since the original article in The Times talks about them being conventional takeoff instead of the F-35B. It also discusses the use of B61 nuclear bombs, which are only certified on the A variant.

Whether The Times' sources are right or not is another matter. But it isn't exactly the first time it's been hinted that the RAF would prefer the F-35A over more Typhoons.
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TBH I don’t particular trust the Times on this at all. I’ll wait for any kind of official confirmation or not.
 
Josh_TN said:
After some quick reading, Apparently the U.S./NATO interpretation of the NPT has always excluded nuclear sharing as proliferation. I had thought there was some kind of specific clause that excluded countries already hosting weapons at the time of the treaty, but there is not (‘dual key’ was secret at the time). The NATO position seems to be that this is not proliferation since they are under U.S. control, and fuck the NPT if there is a nuclear exchange. So really nothing to stop the UK from hosting US weapons again, outside perhaps some protests from CRINK.
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NATO Dual Key was 'grandfathered in' to the NPT as it was already in operation.

Broken said:
It isn't a typo since the original article in The Times talks about them being conventional takeoff instead of the F-35B. It also discusses the use of B61 nuclear bombs, which are only certified on the A variant.

Whether The Times' sources are right or not is another matter. But it isn't exactly the first time it's been hinted that the RAF would prefer the F-35A over more Typhoons.
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It's complete cobblers.

The Times has fallen for the endless RAF 'senior sources' nonsense...i.e. ex- RAF senior officers now working for LM story, again....they've been punting this around for a decade now...quite why defence hacks don't tell them to find a new bullshit story to spin I'll never know...usually its the Telegraph that falls for this story on a semi annual basis...

To put it simply there is no way the UK will switch to a small buy of F-35A from the B....particularly at SDR time...
  1. It would result in fewer operational aircraft with a 2 type fleet
  2. It would result in the F-35B fleet, and budget being immediately moved to the FAA...
  3. To maintain Carrier Strike we need c74 aircraft
  4. It would endanger upgrades to Typhoon
  5. It would endanger GCAP
  6. There are many, many other reasons...
The good news is we should be free of these stories in the near future...once the next 27 F-35B order goes in it will become apparent to all that the UK's orders for F-35 will be over....and we're all in on GCAP and Typhoon MLU. I suspect the GCAP monster and ongoing insanity in the US will even manage to make retired RAF types, and certain 'analysts', back away from F-35A buys for fear of looking even more foolish...
 
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As expected.

Israel's Netanyahu lobbying US against F-35 sale to Turkey, sources say​

"Netanyahu looks to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge over Turkey's air force with tensions in Syria rising

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey, citing concerns over Ankara’s growing influence in Syria, three sources, including two senior western officials, told Middle East Eye.

Netanyahu raised the F-35 issue during multiple calls with Rubio in March and April, the two western officials said. A third source familiar with the matter confirmed that Netanyahu had pressed Rubio on the arms sale.

Netanyahu has privately said he will push Trump against the F-35 sale but has yet to discuss it with him. The Israeli leader will meet Trump at the White House on Monday, his second visit this year."
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https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-netanyahu-lobbying-us-against-f-35-sale-turkey-sources-say
 
Pardon me, had a few pages to catch up on.

joewee said:
USMC Needs?!? What for? Airshows?
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For being able to operate CAS without relying on carriers. To provide defense for the Ospreys without relying on carriers.

Because the Marines assume that the Carrier will be busy with carrier shit and leave them without any air cover.


Josh_TN said:
The whole program would faced a lot fewer delays and produced an aircraft with much better kinematics.
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Without the weight reductions required by the -B?

Nope. The -B made the -A have better kinematics!

Or do you mean that the -A and -C would not have been dimensionally limited to the LHA elevator size and could instead be a bit longer and have better area ruling?


Arjen said:
The logic behind the German F-35 order is that it would provide Germany, relatively quickly, with aircraft capable of delivering US nukes stored in Germany. If the USA withdraws those nukes as part of a withdrawal from NATO, that logic evaporates.
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That is a depressingly simple reason for the Germans...



VishnuOsiris said:
Word to the wise: The market is never rational. Don't read too much into the stock prices.
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Combined response.
Forest Green said:
I'd replace 'is never' with 'isn't always'. Mostly it is rational with a few notable exceptions, this is not one of them, there are real reasons the share prices are going down.
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The market has not been rational since the advent of day traders. Or the so-called high-frequency traders.



NMaude said:
What about the XA100 and XA101 engines?
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Unable to drive the LiftFan in the -B model, and Program Office is rock solid on all F-35s using the same engine.



VTOLicious said:
A more rational approach would be to embrass all European users in the development of a ".EU" model of the KF-21 with an evolution of EJ200 ;)
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Oh, absolutely! Though I'm not sure how much other US ITAR stuff there is in the KF21 besides the engines. I'm guessing also the ejection seats, but it'd be a relatively simple replacement with Martin-Baker seats there.



Halcyon66 said:
Sounds like a virtual cut off switch to me.
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No more than MS no longer supporting the version of Windows your computer runs on.



Josh_TN said:
There also seems to be an interest in having a tactical nuclear capability based on the UK, based on updates to RAF Lakenheath. I do not know if this could be connected to RAF F-35s; I did not think there can be nuclear sharing without violating NPT. Does NPT perhaps not ban transfers if the state a nuclear weapon is being transferred to is already nuclear? That would allow for tactical weapons to be jointly operated by the U.S. and UK.
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NATO dual-key weapons are held by the US. And not just "officially", there are US guards around them 24/7. Both the US and the operating country have to agree to release them.
 
www.airandspaceforces.com

F-35 Office Seeks to Clarify $2.1 Trillion Cost

The F-35 program is explaining the program's $2.1 trillion cost estimate as Pentagon leaders finish crafting their 2026 budget request.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910052448372224184
View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1910052448372224184


www.airandspaceforces.com

Kadena Gets Fresh Rotation of F-15E and F-35 Fighters

F-35s from Eielson AFB, Alaska, and F-15Es from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., arrived at Kadena Air Base in Japan from April 3-6.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
 
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joshjosh said:
TLDR: ceramic RAM is being worked on, which is more durable than existing polymer RAM. It is also better at being stealthy. It could be sprayed on lots of things if so desired.

That's it, that's the video.
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Loved the summary. Can't wait until AI services get good enough so I just give them a link and they get me a summary. Way too many 20 minute videos that have under a minute of actual content on YouTube.
 
totoro said:
Loved the summary. Can't wait until AI services get good enough so I just give them a link and they get me a summary. Way too many 20 minute videos that have under a minute of actual content on YouTube.
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Yandex Browser can do this. I just don't know if it works in English, because it's a Russian company
 
joshjosh said:
TLDR: ceramic RAM is being worked on, which is more durable than existing polymer RAM. It is also better at being stealthy. It could be sprayed on lots of things if so desired.

That's it, that's the video.
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Ceramic RAM has been around a long time

The durability and maintainability of current RAM has less to do with the RAM itself and more to do with the coating stack

There are way better things than ceramic RAM and they are being fielded today

You still can’t change the laws of physics. RAM has limitations that cannot be worked around with magic materials etc
 

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