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

[Forest Green]

Giving F-35 "NASCAR Upgrade" Can Deliver 80% Of F-47 Capabilities At Half Cost: Lockheed

Lockheed doubles down on the Joint Strike Fighter after its F-47 loss with plans to inject 6th generation capabilities into the F-35's 'chassis.'

www.twz.com

Shake and bake.

Lockheed wants to turn F-35 into a ‘Ferrari’ with sixth-gen tech

Better passive infrared, stealth and longer-range weapons are among the sixth-generation technologies Lockheed might incorporate into the F-35.

www.defensenews.com

 

[FighterJock]

Hardly surprising really Forest Green after Lockheed lost the NGAD F-47 competition.

 

[TomcatViP]

I personally hate when aerospace managers drawn comparisons with automotive as if they were not already in the most advanced industry. Bring back the bad vib from working with the most damaging professionals I had to interact with.
If LM now is proud to sell Ferrari, perhaps DoD would pin that to them regarding their mission availability (bring me back my Jeep or my Hummer!).

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

NASCAR isn't the flex LM thinks it is.

 

[joshjosh]

NASCAR isn't the flex LM thinks it is.

Its all starting to make sense. Lockheed lost the competition because their NGAD could only turn left.

 

[Scott Kenny]

NASCAR isn't the flex LM thinks it is.

Unless they're talking about "if the rulebook doesn't say I can't do it, that means I can."

 

[Training_Dummy]

So if I understand things properly LM is proposing an F-35… XL?

 

[BlackBat242]

So if I understand things properly LM is proposing an F-35… XL?

Too bad the F-16XL didn't make it into production before 1990...

 

[TomcatViP]

Despite the awesomeness of this Turbo Lightning, I fear LM proposal would face the same difficulties met by the Super Starfighter in the 60's: larger program in the US and national conflicting priorities among allies (GCAP, FCAS, Boramae...).
But who knows, maybe the Saudi?

 

[bobbymike]

What a ‘Ferrari’ Version of the F-35 Might Look Like

Lockheed Martin claims a “Ferrari” version of the F-35 could meet 80 percent of the F-47 NGAD's capability at half the cost.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[Archibald]

The obvious risk being that "Ferrari variant" going the way of the proverbial Ship of Theseus... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus Starting from "new wings and no tails" and "oh, wait, adaptative engine too".

Until only the (engine) bell is similar, bwaha ha ha.

By the way, how much commonality left between the three F-35 variants ? and why would a fourth variant do any better at "cost savings through commonality" ?

Also it's Lockheed we are talking about, more on the greedy side than benevolent...

 

[Josh_TN]

I don’t think anyone is interested in the concept. USAF already shot down the adaptive engine. Plus just getting the Blk 4 avionics working has been a huge task. I cannot see anyone buying a new version with airframe changes, at least not unless LM pays for development.