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

[Grey Havoc]

Thousands of machinists strike at jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney

About 3,000 labor union members have gone on strike at Pratt & Whitney, as negotiations over wages, retirement benefits and job security broke down.

www.defensenews.com

This could get messy. As if there weren't enough problems on the plate as it is.

 

[FighterJock]

Which would lead to more delays for the F-35, as if it is not suffering from problems with software updates already.One solution would be is to lock the workers in a room until they can agree.

 

[Titus]

I'm honestly not sure. The complexity of avionics and engines is very high (almost all of the 'moving parts'). The ability to engineer an airframe and new aerodynamics is getting easier over time.

If the airframe is holding back a willingness to update avionics, weapons, or engine then offering an improved airframe could be a relatively easy and necessary step for opening up the possibility of further investments in the program.

The question is the cost/capability calculation regarding avionics, weapons, engines... what to add, what level of capability, and what alternatives.

This is certainly true. It seems to me the path to a truly competent sixth generation air dominance fighter would be a new fuselage for the F-35. The Navy did this with the FA-18 family and got the very competent E/F/G (Although they didn't cure the range issues the way they should have).
How difficult would it be to create the fifth generation fighter we should have had with the F-35 if it hadn't had to be spread across three different versions for three different services?
Having said that I suspect the F-35, exactly as it is, is the fifth generation fighter that India wishes they had right now. F-35 Pilots, almost all of them, insist it's an amazing aircraft.

 

[timmymagic]

First deliveries to the UK in 14 months...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920494173678870749

View: https://x.com/RoyalAirForce/status/1920494173678870749

 

[FighterJock]

About time too, it has been far too long since the last deliveries to the UK. I think that it is time to order more F-35Bs then see about ordering some F-35As.

 

[NMaude]

I think that it is time to order more F-35Bs then see about ordering some F-35As.

Assuming the UK doesn't have any F-35As on hand no doubt having a squadron or two would be handy as they have a much greater payload capacity than the F-35B.

 

[Ozair]

One solution would be is to lock the workers in a room until they can agree.

I think those types of work practises passed away with the last century, at least in the US...

Assuming the UK doesn't have any F-35As on hand no doubt having a squadron or two would be handy as they have a much greater payload capacity than the F-35B.

Zero chance of an F-35A order from the UK and I'm not sure why people keep suggesting it.

 

[Josh_TN]

I think those types of work practises passed away with the last century, at least in the US...

They are coming back in the U.S.; if anything Europe is much farther away in terms of working hours or child labor.