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

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --
An F-35A Lightning II landed at Eielson AFB Oct 12 to participate in testing several aspects of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

This test’s purpose has two major outcomes: certifying the Norwegian drag-chute and demonstrating that the entire fleet of F-35As are capable of landing at a runway condition reading (RCR) of 7.

The RCR scale is based on how wet and dry each runway is. A RCR 23 is considered a dry runway while an RCR 5 is compared to landing on ice.

“The F-35A is currently certified to land at an RCR of 12,” said Capt. Daniel Campbell, the 354th Fighter Wing F-35 PIO director of mission support. “This test is important to the base because it will help certify the F-35A to operate at an RCR of 7. The 354th Civil Engineer Squadron and 354th Operations Support Squadron try to keep our runway at an RCR of 12 or better during the harsh winters, but often are below that. We need the lower RCR certification to ensure the F-35A can operate throughout our winters.”

In April 2016, it was officially announced the base was scheduled to receive two squadrons of F-35As as well as approximately 3,500 Airmen, contractors and their families. Construction began in early 2017 for projects regarding the F-35As arrival.

According to Kevin Blanchard, the 354th FW F-35 PIO director, in addition to the F-35 flight simulator that was started in March 2017, a contract for a propulsion maintenance hangar, addition for the maintenance field training detachment, and several other projects have been awarded to various companies.

Eielson will continue to prepare for the 2020 arrival of the F-35As while still completing the primary mission of prepare, deploy and enable. As always, the Icemen Team will remain “Ready to go at 50 below!”

http://www.eielson.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1341474/f-35a-arrives-at-eielson-for-testing/
 
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lockheed-f-35-deliveries-lag-in-third-quarter-442466/
 
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2017-10/professional-notes-us-f-35-versus-prc-j-20
 
http://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1351080/us-air-forces-f-35a-lightning-ii-scheduled-for-first-operational-deployment-to/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/f-35-jet-and-new-batch-of-uk-pilots-cleared-for-carrier-take-off-defence-minister-tells-select-committee
 
"F-35A Pilots Report Five More Hypoxia-Like Episodes"
Oct 24, 2017 Lara Seligman | Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Source:
http://aviationweek.com/defense/f-35a-pilots-report-five-more-hypoxia-episodes

U.S. Air Force F-35s at Luke AFB, Arizona, are back in the skies after a spate of so-called physiological episodes (PEs) caused the service to ground the aircraft this summer, but the troubling events have continued across the service’s F-35 fleet, with pilots reporting tingling fingers and other symptoms that indicate hypoxia five separate times since flights resumed at ...
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Turkey expresses interest in buying F-35B STOVL variant

Kerry Herschelman - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

Turkey recently expressed to the United States its interest in purchasing the F-35B
short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter,
Jane’s has learned from Turkish and Western defence industry sources. This is in
addition to the 100 F-35As it already plans to buy from Lockheed Martin.

A senior Turkish Defence Industries undersecretariat official expressed his country’s
interest in buying F-35 STOVL variants to Vice Admiral Mathias Winter, head of the US
Defense Department’s F-35 programme office, during a meeting held in Ankara in mid-
October.

It is unclear how many F-35B STOVL variants Turkey intends to buy.

http://www.janes.com/article/75300/turkey-expresses-interest-in-buying-f-35b-stovl-variant
 
https://scout.com/military/warrior/Article/Navy-Moves-Stealthy-Carrier-Launched-F-35C-Closer-to-Combat-109780343
 
1 month delay in F-35 deliveries tied to lack of Primer in screw holes.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/11/01/minor-quality-control-issue-creates-new-problem-for-f-35-enterprise/

WASHINGTON — A quality control issue at Lockheed Martin stopped F-35 deliveries for a month, but even more time will be needed to roll out a fix to impacted jets across the fleet.

When corrosion was found in several fastener holes under the fuselage panels of a F-35A undergoing maintenance at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, the F-35 joint program office suspended deliveries of the aircraft to give it and Lockheed time to analyze the issue, a Lockheed spokesman said in a statement. That interruption lasted from Sept. 21 to Oct. 20.
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https://youtu.be/txooHvssic4

From here.

https://theaviationist.com/2017/05/03/this-cool-footage-shows-u-s-f-35a-lightning-ii-combat-planes-flying-through-the-famous-mach-loop-for-the-first-time/
 
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/11/06/norway-accepts-its-first-three-f-35s/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DFN%20DNR%2011.06.17&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Daily%20News%20Roundup
 
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israel-ready-to-receive-next-two-f-35is-at-nevatim-442937/
 
An anonymous senior Luftwaffe official has apparently stated that their preferred Tornado replacement is the F-35, with a clean sheet design being unlikely with there being only ~7 years until they need to begin introducing the Tornado's replacement:

http://www.janes.com/article/75511/germany-declares-preference-for-f-35-to-replace-tornado
 
Dragon029 said:
An anonymous senior Luftwaffe official has apparently stated that their preferred Tornado replacement is the F-35, with a clean sheet design being unlikely with there being only ~7 years until they need to begin introducing the Tornado's replacement:

http://www.janes.com/article/75511/germany-declares-preference-for-f-35-to-replace-tornado
Click to expand...

Makes sense...now stand by for all the F-104 references. ::)

BTW, here are a couple of photos of the first RAAF 3SQN F-35, A35-003:

AXHXb8g.jpg


FmblGu8.jpg
 
http://www.janes.com/article/75511/germany-declares-preference-for-f-35-to-replace-tornado
 
House and Senate negotiators agree on 20 more F-35s (for 90 total) than were in the original FY2018 budget request.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/188274/house%2C-senate-negotiators-add-funding-for-20-extra-f_35s.html
 
"BAE completes full scale test of F-35A airframe"
By
UPI -
November 9, 2017

Source:
https://newsline.com/bae-completes-full-scale-test-of-f-35a-airframe/

Nov. 9 (UPI) — BAE Systems announced Thursday that the contractor successfully completed its full scale durability test airframe of the F-35A aircraft.

The completion is the culmination of the F-35A’s third life testing at BAE Systems’ testing facility in East Yorkshire in England, which is equivalent to 24,000 hours of “flying.”

The airframe, known officially as the AJ-1,is designed to operate from conventional runways, and is the only F-35 variant to carry an internal cannon, according to Lockheed Martin, who also works on the F-35 Lightning II aircraft fleet.

The U.S. Air Force, as well as the majority of allied air forces and Foreign Military Sales nations, will operate the F-35A, eventually replacing their 3rd and 4th generation aircraft.

“The F-35 program requires a service life of 8,000 flight hours,” Kathy Nesmith, F-35 joint program office airframe team lead, said in a press release. “This is verified through durability testing to two lifetimes or 16,000 hours. Completing third life testing on the F-35A durability article will provide us the data to enable the warfighter to maintain and sustain this aircraft beyond 2050.”

The F-35B and F-35C durability test airframes already have completed 16,000 hour second life testing, with additional tests being conducted to maximize the life of the aircraft.Nov. 9 (UPI) — BAE Systems announced Thursday that the contractor successfully completed its full scale durability test airframe of the F-35A aircraft.

The completion is the culmination of the F-35A’s third life testing at BAE Systems’ testing facility in East Yorkshire in England, which is equivalent to 24,000 hours of “flying.”

The airframe, known officially as the AJ-1,is designed to operate from conventional runways, and is the only F-35 variant to carry an internal cannon, according to Lockheed Martin, who also works on the F-35 Lightning II aircraft fleet.

The U.S. Air Force, as well as the majority of allied air forces and Foreign Military Sales nations, will operate the F-35A, eventually replacing their 3rd and 4th generation aircraft.

“The F-35 program requires a service life of 8,000 flight hours,” Kathy Nesmith, F-35 joint program office airframe team lead, said in a press release. “This is verified through durability testing to two lifetimes or 16,000 hours. Completing third life testing on the F-35A durability article will provide us the data to enable the warfighter to maintain and sustain this aircraft beyond 2050.”

The F-35B and F-35C durability test airframes already have completed 16,000 hour second life testing, with additional tests being conducted to maximize the life of the aircraft....
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USA discussing F-35 sale to United Arab Emirates

The US government is discussing the potential sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters with the United Arab Emirates, the US Air Force’s vice chief of staff has confirmed.
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Israeli objections could also quash any potential sale of the F-35 to the UAE. But even a sale to an adversary in the Gulf may not erode Tel Aviv's qualitative military edge, since deliveries would not begin in the near term.
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https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dubai-usa-discussing-f-35-sale-to-united-arab-emira-443118/
 
"Source: UAE wants to buy 24 F-35s"
By: Chirine Mchantaf and Agnes Al Helou

Source:
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dubai-air-show/2017/11/12/uae-undertakes-air-force-restructuring-plan/

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also seeking to procure the F-35 jets, and talks are making an important progress, as stated by officials who refused to be named.
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https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dubai-foreign-f-35-partners-work-up-interim-soluti-443146/
 
F-35 arrivals propel Norwegian air force modernisation

The Royal Norwegian Air Force has conducted its first domestic flights with the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, after a trio of the fifth-generation type touched down at its Ørland air base early this month.
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https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/f-35-arrivals-propel-norwegian-air-force-modernisati-443287/

To Seal F-35 Deal, UAE Must Agree To Protect Sensitive Information

DUBAI, UAE – Approval of the UAE’s request to buy the F-35 hinges on the Gulf nation agreeing to take steps to protect the network-centric fighter’s sensitive technology and vast data bank of critical information, according to the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer.

The F-35 is more supercomputer than bomb truck – it is a flying data hub, designed to vacuum in critical threat information and transmit that data seamlessly throughout the allied force. But that capability presents a new set of challenges: protecting sensitive technology and sovereign information shared between international operators over the aircraft’s vast network.

This issue already has proven tricky for international F-35 partners and allies currently planning to operate the fighter. Now, news that the U.S. is considering selling the F-35 to Gulf nations could alarm those existing partners – particularly Israel. Tel Aviv is currently the exclusive operator of the Joint Strike Fighter in the Middle East region.

As the UAE seeks a classified briefing on the F-35, the U.S. is working closely with the Emirates to establish a structure to protect this kind of information, Ellen Lord, U.S. undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, told Aviation Week in an interview at the Dubai Airshow.
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http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/seal-f-35-deal-uae-must-agree-protect-sensitive-information
 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/21/impossible-predict-costs-f-35-numbers-may-fall-mps-hear/
By Ben Farmer, Defence Correspondent
21 November 2017 • 7:26pm

Rising costs may force the Ministry of Defence to cut its planned order of 138 stealth jets, officials have suggested for the first time.

MPs on the Commons defence committee heard it was impossible to accurately forecast the costs of the F-35 programme. As costs become clearer as they enter service, the MoD would “make adjustments in our programme accordingly”.

The plan to buy the new jets is the MoD’s second biggest weapons programme, after replacing the nuclear deterrent.

The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review declared Britain would “maintain our plan to buy 138 F35 Lightning aircraft” over the coming decades.

The plane is considered the most advanced combat jet ever and will fly from the new aircraft carriers as well as from RAF bases.

Britain has already signed a contract for the first batch of 48, which are estimated to cost £9.1bn by 2025, including support such as training and maintenance.

But Stephen Lovegrove, Permanent Secretary, said it would be be “imprudent” and “misleading” to give an estimate for the cost of the rest.

Mark Francois MP, a former defence minister, said the failure to give a figure for costs was “extraordinary” and the public would be “pretty shocked”.

He said: “Is it any wonder people have some skepticism about budgeting in the Ministry of Defence?”

Lt Gen Stephen Poffley, deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, said once the jets become operational, there would be an annual review of their costs to help forecasts.

Julian Lewis MP, committee chairman, suggested that meant the order was likely to be “on a similar course” to previous large defence buys, such as the plan to originally buy 12 Type 45 destroyers, that was then cut to eight and finally six.

If later batches were delayed, or costs went up then “we are going to have to adjust the numbers of these aircraft that we order”.

Lt Gen Poffley said he was “sympathetic” to that logic.

Mr Lewis went on: “What’s clear then is that the 48 are safe, secure, done and dusted as it were as far as the financial cost is concerned, but after that there is inevitable uncertainty, that’s what you are telling us?”

Lt Gen Poffley said: “I am afraid that is the reality of the world we are living in.”

If a decision to scale back purchases was made, then the MOD would have to consider keeping older jets the F-35 is due to replace.

Lt Gen Poffley said: “We would consider exactly that dynamic at the point at which it was evident that we weren’t able to pursue our original plan of 138, but that is some way off.”
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US Senate spending bill less bullish on F-35 buy

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-senate-spending-bill-less-bullish-on-f-35-buy-443536/
 
That's good, because the AF specifically asked Congress not to lard the budget with more F-35As. See page 6.

http://docs.house.gov/meetings/AS/AS25/20170216/105552/HHRG-115-AS25-Wstate-HarrisJ-20170216.pdf
 
To fill capability and capacity shortfalls, the Air Force needs to increase F-35A procurement to a minimum of 60 aircraft per year as quickly as possible. This must be carefully balanced with the required follow-on modernization effort for the F-35A.

These two sentences express what Harris and the SAR say. There's not actually any conflict. The target rate is 60, but the AF wishes to hold at ~48 through 2020, reaching 60 in FY23 (2025 delivery) once a mature Block 4 is coming off the line. What they appear to want to avoid is too many Block 3s.

Here's the SAR: https://fas.org/man/eprint/F-35-SAR-2018.pdf

If you have any detail on the schedule for the 14 UFP jets, it would be interesting to see it. It would be hard to get them all in FY18 without having the advance procurement laid down in FY17.
 
Britain Mulling F-35 Future Commitments

http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/britain-mulling-f-35-future-commitments
 
Maybe three F-35 less for Netherlands

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/188886/dutch-may-cut-last-three-jsf-fighters.html
 
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/navy-f-35s-are-training-testing-the-technology-the-future-23440?utm_content=buffer687e7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
 
http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/spy-f35s-send-sensitive-norwegian-military-data-back-to-lockheed-martin-in-the-united-states/news-story/12b4fafce6b579448cc8416518063d1f
 
https://www.military.com/2017/12/01/air-force-taps-raytheon-build-new-smart-bomb-f-35.html
 
To nobody's surprise, the whole "filter" issue is "old news" that was reported over a year ago.

Lockheed Martin will begin studying options for adding a software filter to the system that tracks maintenance and training data for the F-35 fighter as part of an effort to limit the amount of data that gets shared with US-based contractors over concerns about privacy and sovereignty.

...

The software will allow each partner country to inspect and verify data flowing to and from the US hub, the JPO stays. The software will also be able to block, modify or delay sensitive data. One example of sensitive data are details in the pilot's training and flight records, which in some countries are protected by privacy laws.
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https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/new-f-35-software-could-quell-alis-sovereignty-conce-430823/

Australia & Italy are already working on a native solution while the LM one get's done. They expect to have it soon.

“Ultimately, there will be a standard gateway off of the programme that we can all work with, but in the interim we’re thinking for each nation to bring a gateway along and have that integrated,” he tells FlightGlobal. “We expect the gateway will allow us to inspect and decide when information gets passed.”

While Australia plans to introduce the mature solution between its first F-35 delivery in 2018 and initial operational capability in 2020, the fielding timeline will vary by individual nation and depend on which communications networks they use, Gordon says.

A spokeswoman for the Italian air force tells FlightGlobal that by the end of this year an Italian firm will implement a hardware filter for the ALIS data traffic, followed by an enhanced software solution in 2018. The solution will automatically block messages and data the country does not wish to send, the spokeswoman says. Each partner is able to modify its JSF system to protect its sovereign data, she adds.
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https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dubai-foreign-f-35-partners-work-up-interim-soluti-443146/

The F-35.com website even talks about it.

Security is paramount, and ALIS allows each nation to keep their sovereign data protected while pooling the data that the nations choose in order to support worldwide reliability and maintainability.
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https://www.f35.com/about/life-cycle/sustainment

Like I said, the recent "OMG the F-35 is spying on us" is nothing but recycled click-bait.
 
http://aviationweek.com/defense/f-35s-could-shoot-down-north-korean-missiles
 
Just a reminder :
This thread is still alive (after being locked more than once !) because the title was changed to "... News ONLY" !!!
So, please, post NEWS ONLY here, without personal comments or discussions !
Experience shows, that this won't work for certain themes ....
 
Israel declares IOC for the F-35I with 9 jets (getting 6 more in 2018)

http://www.iaf.org.il/4467-49791-en/IAF.aspx

The IAF “Adir” (F-35I), which landed in Israel a year ago, was declared operational upon the completion of an initial operational capability inspection
Carmel Stern
A new age in the IAF: merely a year after arriving in Israel, the “Adir” (F-35I) fighter was declared operational. The fifth generation fighter jet, manufactured by “Lockheed Martin” is considered one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft.

"The declaration of the squadron's operational capability is occurring at a time in which the IAF is operating on a large scale in a number of fronts, in the constanly changing Middle East", said Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, Commander of the IAF. "The operational challenge, which is becoming more and more complex each day, receives an excellent aerial response. The 'Adir' aircraft's operational status adds a significant layer to the IAF's capabilities at this time".

Following a series of tests and fitness examinations, the aircraft was found fit for operational activity. “The inspection examined missions and scenarios that include all of the operational elements required to fly the ‘Adir’, from the ground to the air”, shared Lt. Col. Yotam, Commander of the 140th (“Golden Eagle”) Squadron, which operates the “Adir”. “I am confident in the division’s capability to reach operational preparedness and feel that the pressure is positive and healthy”.

The first two fighters arrived in Israel on December 12th, 2016. Today, the IAF has nine at its disposal, five of which were chosen for the inspection. The Israeli F-35 is the first outside of the United States to be declared operational, preceded only by the U.S Marine Corps and U.S Air Force.

Learning Every Day
“The initial operational capability inspection examined more than the squadron’s readiness to operate the ‘Adir’, it tested the entire IAF. The inspection dealt with multiple elements in the IAF: the various directorates, the ‘Golden Eagle’ Squadron, the ATC Unit, Nevatim AFB, the Central Control Unit and many more”, described Lt. Col. Yotam.

The IAF’s standpoint, to adapt itself to the fifth generation instead of adapting the “Adir” to the IAF, posed a new challenge every day. “The main theme that characterized the past year was learning. Every day in the past year ended with a debriefing in which we learned something new: about the aircraft, about its systems, operation and maintenance”, shared Maj. D, Deputy Commander of the 140th Squadron.

The 140th Squadron’s aircrew members are among the first F-35 aircrew members in the world, a fact that strengthens their sense of mission. “Flying the ‘Adir’ is exciting every time, from wearing your flight suit and unique helmet to starting the engine. Getting excited from the overwhelming thrust, the ease in which you climb and begin performing your mission”.

Moving Forward
“The integration of the ‘Adir’ is one of the largest challenges that the IAF has dealt with, mainly because of the pioneering nature of the project. 80 percent of the things we do and learn here are things we taught ourselves”, shared Lt. Col. Yotam.

Throughout 2018, the “Golden Eagle” Squadron is expected to integrate six more fighters, while the next aircraft are scheduled to land in Israel early in the summer.

“We have yet to complete our acquaintance with the aircraft. We still have tests, development of combat doctrines and extensive learning before us”, concluded Lt. Col. Yotam. “We haven’t stopped learning thinking and developing upon being declared operational. The establishment of the division doesn’t end with this inspection, it just begins. Will the ‘Adir’ participate in the next military campaign? I have no doubt. An aircraft like this brings capabilities to the IAF that it didn’t have before; it is an important strategic asset”.
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http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2017/12/newly-revealed-experiment-shows-how-f-35-could-help-intercept-icbms/144365/?oref=defenseone_today_nl
 

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