Lockheed Martin F-35: News ONLY topic

[marauder2048]

F-35 MCR over different LRIP batches.
Certainly adds weight to the argument of going FRP.

The "full rate production" decision has no bearing on yearly quantity whatsoever.

 

[TomcatViP]

Also the graphic illustrate perfectly how LM and the services have reached a point where the number introduced yearly has now no impact on mission rate.

 

[Bhurki]

F-35 MCR over different LRIP batches.
Certainly adds weight to the argument of going FRP.

The "full rate production" decision has no bearing on yearly quantity whatsoever.

Sure, but it does inspire quite a bit of confidence, to be honest.

 

[VTOLicious]

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanne...rones-to-complement-polands-future-f-35-jets/
...what drones are we talking about?

 

[Grey Havoc]

QF-16 UCAV, perhaps?

 

[TomcatViP]

I understand it as being a new design in cooperation with Poland.

 

[Flyaway]

I understand it as being a new design in cooperation with Poland.

Sounded like they wanted to sell it to the US as well.

 

[Bhurki]

These Are Some Of The Designs Submitted For The New Aggressors F-35 Color Scheme

https://theaviationist.com/2020/09/10/these-are-some-of-the-designs-submitted-for-the-new-aggressors-f-35-color-scheme/

 

[helmutkohl]

nice! we finally might see F-35s in something other than its usual grey stealth paint

I like the first 2 the best

but realistically I suppose they should try to do their best and mimic Russian and Chinese (maybe Iranian) colors?
in which case the Ghost scheme seems a bit closer to what the Russians might use for their production Su-57
the J-20 is overall not that different from the F-35's standard scheme
Iran currently uses a two toned sky blue scheme

 

[VTOLicious]

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanne...rones-to-complement-polands-future-f-35-jets/
...what drones are we talking about?

...
https://aviationweek.com/defense-sp...martin-unveils-details-mq-9-replacement-offer

 

[sferrin]

Looks like their failed MQ-25 entry.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Yes, it reminded me of that as well.

 

[fredymac]

F-35C clip from IMAX Guardian of the Seas. Can't find a full length movie so far.

New Collins ad for gen III F-35 HMD. They don't make any mention of the switch to OLED lighting to eliminate the "green glow" problem.

 

[Flyaway]

Looks like their failed MQ-25 entry.

It mentions in the article that it appears to be based on the Sea Ghost proposal & RQ-170.

 

[Flyaway]

U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs Are About To Go Aboard A British Carrier And They Might Be There To Stay

An Anglo-American F-35B force will be the centerpiece of the United Kingdom’s biggest carrier air group in 40 years.

www.thedrive.com

 

[bobbymike]

F-35 Stealth Fighter Now Costs Less Than Boeing’s F-15EX

Moreover, the aircraft’s maker, Lockheed Martin, has also done its part to bring the sustainability cost per flying hour down by some 40 percent—meaning that the F-35 costs less to fly per

www.realcleardefense.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Hmmm, I think I have a bridge or two stashed away somewhere...

 

[TomcatViP]

@Grey Havoc : Don't forget that the F-35 among other things, has one less engine that is from a generation beyond and far less structural parts.
Many of the parts routinely accessed or damaged during operations are pannels and skin elements made of impregnated CFRP, that once produced in quantity can be deceptively cheap to manufacture, even with tight stealth tolerance standards.

Last but not least, let's not forget that low operatinal cost was part of initial requirements, even if the road to that has not been that easy.

 

[TomcatViP]

Another cool video:

View: https://youtu.be/5_guMC3jeRs

 

[zebra159357]

Expensive F-15EX Does Not Deliver: Congress Should Nix Its Purchase

Earlier this year, the Air Force signed a deal to develop, test, and eventually buy up to 140 fourth-generation Boeing F-15EX fighters. Defense Department and Air Force arguments to acquire the F-15EX have run the gamut from it being cheaper to acquire and operate than the F-35, to the need to...

www.heritage.org

 

[Flyaway]

The UK’s F-35 numbers game. Maybe sacrificing future buys of the type in favour of funding Tempest.

Storm Clouds Gather Over F-35B Lightning As United Kingdom Prepares Defense Review

A reduced force of F-35Bs looks increasingly likely and could free up funds for the Tempest future fighter.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

@Grey Havoc : Don't forget that the F-35 among other things, has one less engine that is from a generation beyond and far less structural parts.
Many of the parts routinely accessed or damaged during operations are pannels and skin elements made of impregnated CFRP, that once produced in quantity can be deceptively cheap to manufacture, even with tight stealth tolerance standards.

Last but not least, let's not forget that low operatinal cost was part of initial requirements, even if the road to that has not been that easy.

I'm not sure they have actually attained that cost goal, especially given the still ongoing problems with the engine and other systems (and don't get me started on the unholy mess that is the software!). A lot of dubious accounting and such going on here I fear.

 

[TomcatViP]

US, UAE may agree on F-35 deal by December: Reuters

UAE could be the first Gulf state to possess the stealth jet, as US studies deal that is also acceptable to Israel.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[fredymac]

Marines embark onto HMS Queen Elizabeth (along with RAF 617 squadron).

 

[TomcatViP]

1 F-35 lost. Pilot OK. KC-130J was able to make an emergency landing (some extensive damages apparantly) :

Marine KC-130 and F-35 collide in California

No fatalities have been reported yet after a Marine KC-130J and F-35B crashed into each other while attempting an aerial refueling.

www.marinecorpstimes.com

From Scramble.nl

 

[Foo Fighter]

No worries, that'll polish out. Th F-35 might take longer though, and a LOT of super glue. Jigsaw puzzle anyone?

 

[GARGEAN]

Super glue in puzzle?! That's cheating!

 

[Richard N]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Hv6rlYpcM

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGm3gEXnv4I

 

[RavenOne]

1 F-35 lost. Pilot OK. KC-130J was able to make an emergency landing (some extensive damages apparantly) :

Marine KC-130 and F-35 collide in California

No fatalities have been reported yet after a Marine KC-130J and F-35B crashed into each other while attempting an aerial refueling.

www.marinecorpstimes.com

From Scramble.nl

View attachment 641734

I saw 6765 when it was over here, fortnight ago. It came into RAF Marham on Sunday after the VMFA-211 Wake Island Avengers arrived. Next thing I know , it’s gone U/S and at RAF Mildenhall ....so here is my photo of it on deck at Mildenhall on the 12th and of it departing on the 15th.

cheers

 

[TomcatViP]

Great emergency landing b/w. Seems that port wing had no engines running with all propellers shot off (as the pod).

 

[TomcatViP]

The F-35 package comes with an estimated price tag of $6.58 billion, while the F/A-18 package with a price tag of $7.452 billion. Both those totals, if they represent final figures — and DSCA notifications often do not — would exceed the approved $6.5 billion budget for the program.
In addition, State pre-cleared Switzerland to purchase the Patriot air defense system, a contender for a complimentary ground-based capability. The five Patriot batteries come with an estimated $2.2 billion price tag.

Switzerland approved for potential F-35, F-18, Patriot buys worth billions

Switzerland has been pre-cleared in case it selects either of the fighters for its next-generation air defense strategy.

www.defensenews.com

 

[mkellytx]

Great emergency landing b/w. Seems that port wing had no engines running with all propellers shot off (as the pod).

Not to mention the port outboard had to be seriously unbalanced if that blade was thrown in flight...

 

[TomcatViP]

I hadn't even noticed that one. I guess the two of them in front have free beer for a great long while.

 

[Foo Fighter]

Is that Herc salvageable? It looks like the crew did a great job putting her down. A pity the wheels weren't.

 

[TomcatViP]

They probably opted for a belly landing given the nature of the ground.
From some angles I see as if the fuselage is broken forward of the wing spar.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Is that Herc salvageable? It looks like the crew did a great job putting her down. A pity the wheels weren't.

Considering it landed in a plowed field, gear up was a better option of they even had a choice.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[jeffb]

They probably opted for a belly landing given the nature of the ground.
From some angles I see as if the fuselage is broken forward of the wing spar.

I think they break their backs pretty regularly with these sorts of forced landings, especially if they hit hard. It looks like the left refueling pod's been ripped off at some point too. Will be interesting to hear the pilot's account (if we get it) as it's difficult to say how much damage is from the landing and how much from the collision based on 1 or 2 pics.

 

[TomcatViP]

Pilots never see the outside world through the canopy; they see an image of it. Every manufactured canopy optically distorts the view of the outside world in a unique way. Aerial and ground targets viewed through head-up and helmet-mounted displays can be distorted by imperceptible deviations in canopy thickness, curves, and material. In other words, the canopy can have a direct effect on weapon accuracy. To mitigate this, every canopy is manufactured and verified to extremely tight tolerances. Each canopy is then optically mapped and matched to a specific aircraft as part of the assembly process, with optical deviation data stored in onboard systems to correct the pilot’s view of the outside world, in real-time

Building and Verifying Tooling for F-35 Fighter Jet Canopy

Hockley Pattern & Tool, Halesowen, England, is an example of a company dedicated to the art and science of making perfect tooling.

www.sme.org

 

[riggerrob]

Dear TomcatVIP and mkellytx,

Please use standard nomenclature: USN, USMC, USAF, FAA, SAE, etc..
All left and right, up and down, fore and aft are defined from the pilot's seat.
Ergo the left wing tip is always off the pilot's left shoulder along with the #1 engine and #2 engine.

In this accident, it looks like the F-35 over-shot his approach to the refueling drogue hanging under the right wing. He damaged the inboard, right-hand external fuel tank along with propellers on both the #3 and #4 engines.
Looks like the #1 propeller and left-most refueling pod were damaged on landing.

 

[Fluff]

Dear TomcatVIP and mkellytx,

Please use standard nomenclature: USN, USMC, USAF, FAA, SAE, etc..
All left and right, up and down, fore and aft are defined from the pilot's seat.
Ergo the left wing tip is always off the pilot's left shoulder along with the #1 engine and #2 engine.

In this accident, it looks like the F-35 over-shot his approach to the refueling drogue hanging under the right wing. He damaged the inboard, right-hand external fuel tank along with propellers on both the #3 and #4 engines.
Looks like the #1 propeller and left-most refueling pod were damaged on landing.

I always understood Port and starboard was the point, as apposed to left and right. Port and starboard is from the captains seat, as it started with ships. Port is left, for any ground pounders who have learnt to type, hopefully everyone else can work out which one is right.....