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.

 

[timmymagic]

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.

We'll be getting another 27 in Tranche 2...then that should be it. All monies go to Typhoon MLU, Unmanned, GCAP and F-35 upgrades post that point...and that accounts for the next 15 years..

Adding another type, which F-35A is, would vastly increase operating costs....if ordered now they wouldn't arrive and actually be operational until the early 2030's...and remember the vastly more capable GCAP arrives from 2035, which will consume funds, and crucially personnel...not just pilots and maintainers, but doctrine, training, tactics, project etc etc.

 

[Grey Havoc]

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

What was old is new again, though.

 

[Forest Green]

 

[starviking]

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.

I think the RN might see this as the thin end of the wedge for an eventual RAF divestment of Bs - leaving the RN high and dry.

 

[NMaude]

I think the RN might see this as the thin end of the wedge for an eventual RAF divestment of Bs - leaving the RN high and dry.

Maybe, maybe not, the RAF knows from its own operational experience the value of having STOVL attack aircraft starting with the Falklands War.

 

[timmymagic]

I think the RN might see this as the thin end of the wedge for an eventual RAF divestment of Bs - leaving the RN high and dry.

I think it would be the other way around....RAF are scared if they went down that route, or remove focus from the B, that the RN could make the logical case that F-35B, with its associated budget, should be assigned totally to them....particularly as the likely total buy of 74, opposed to the still touted (but utterly untrue) 138 means that Carrier Strike and a limited land based Expeditionary Capability inevitably becomes the main focus of the fleet....one of which is definitely the RN's area, and the other could reasonably be as well alongside the RM, ship based long ranged fires etc...and with the RAF's investment in heavyweight AAR in the form of Voyager, future unmanned capabilities and GCAP's emphasis on extreme range (allied with increased range air launched stand off munitions on the way) its a fairly reasonable position....as the RAF appears to be pivoting to a force that (sensibly) will launch from increasing distances from the enemy on main bases.