Lockheed Martin F-35: News ONLY topic

[helmutkohl]

^ any pics or videos of the F-35B taking off from Cavour with a full load (external and internal)? I read somewhere that they did monster mode tests, which I assume means full external and internal

 

[TomcatViP]

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/lockheed-martin-f-35-news-only-topic.17732/post-445496

 

[helmutkohl]

thanks, also found some more via alert5

here is one taking off with 4 bombs, and i guess 2 more bombs and 2 missiles inside the bay and full fuel. i wonder how many of those stobar jets can do that too from the same distance. (honest question not a statement)

 

[TomcatViP]

A pair of F-35s can strike multiple targets in a contested environment with no support save, perhaps, a tanker. To get two conventional fighter jets to a similarly contested target requires 10 to 20 additional aircraft. The strike jets must be accompanied by other planes to jam enemy radar, defend the attackers, and provide situational awareness. So even if the F-35 costs twice as much per flight hour as an F-16—it’s less than that, in fact—it’s still the more cost-effective option. Buying F-35s eliminates the need for other aircraft and the personnel, acquisition, training, and logistics that go with them. No economic argument against the F-35 is viable without that calculus.

Editorial: The Best Fighter in the World - Air Force Magazine

The radar-evading F-35’s very presence changes the nature of battle. It’s a strategic investment and combat tool, not a tactical one.

www.airforcemag.com

 

[Foo Fighter]

I have difficulty with stealth characteristics while carrying a heavy weapon load, how does the fully loaded F-35 compare to a fully loaded Viper?

 

[Fluff]

I have difficulty with stealth characteristics while carrying a heavy weapon load, how does the fully loaded F-35 compare to a fully loaded Viper?

Logically F35 would still be better, but probably not by much. But thats not the rational, idea is on day 1 your F35 goes in stealthed, with maybe 2 weapons, thus clearing the way for later F35 flights with external stores, once radars are destroyed etc.

 

[TomcatViP]

I have difficulty with stealth characteristics while carrying a heavy weapon load, how does the fully loaded F-35 compare to a fully loaded Viper?

They are still available on day 2.

 

[Foo Fighter]

Ta, folks. What anti radiation weapons fit in the weapons bay? Taking out the radar sites would need that sort of ability on day one to enable the following days to be dedicated to support and anti air missions.

 

[GTX]

Ta, folks. What anti radiation weapons fit in the weapons bay? Taking out the radar sites would need that sort of ability on day one to enable the following days to be dedicated to support and anti air missions.

AARGM-ER is planned:

US Air Force requests information on new anti-radiation missile for F-35A

The US Air Force (USAF) is requesting information for modifications to the US Navy's (USN) Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) programme that would make that weapon suitable for its Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter.

www.flightglobal.com

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/aargm-vfdr-missiles.3411/page-3

 

[Josh_TN]

Ta, folks. What anti radiation weapons fit in the weapons bay? Taking out the radar sites would need that sort of ability on day one to enable the following days to be dedicated to support and anti air missions.

None at the moment. An advanced, faster version of AGM-88 goes into production soon and will enable the F-35 to be easily the most capable SEAD aircraft in the world.

 

[sferrin]

Estimated development costs for the F-35′s modernization program increased by $1.9B in a year

Block 4 development costs will reach an estimated $14.4 billion, the Government Accountability Office found.

www.defensenews.com

Why is fixing the troubled software development for this program proving to be such a great challenge? Seems to have been a bottleneck for this program since AA-1 first flew.

The software fixes needed new microprocessors... At least some of the fixes. When I develope a module for a vehicle i spec out 25% excess capability than needed to avoid this problem.

Maybe too many programmers used to making Windows bloatware.

 

[Foo Fighter]

Thanks folks.

 

[kitnut617]

Ta, folks. What anti radiation weapons fit in the weapons bay? Taking out the radar sites would need that sort of ability on day one to enable the following days to be dedicated to support and anti air missions.

AARGM-ER is planned:

US Air Force requests information on new anti-radiation missile for F-35A

The US Air Force (USAF) is requesting information for modifications to the US Navy's (USN) Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) programme that would make that weapon suitable for its Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter.

www.flightglobal.com

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/aargm-vfdr-missiles.3411/page-3

Isn't that what SPEAR3 is for too Greg ?

 

[GTX]

SPEAR-EW I believe you mean - that is an option for the RAF ones at this stage as I understand it. Not sure if anyone else has shown interest yet.

MBDA working on new SPEAR-EW electronic warfare weapon | Press Release | MBDA

SPEAR-EW will integrate a cutting-edge miniaturised EW payload from Leonardo, which will act as a stand-in jammer to greatly increase the survivability of RAF aircraft and suppress enemy air defences, acting as a significant force multiplier.

www.mbda-systems.com

https://theaviationist.com/2021/01/11/mbda-spear-3-selected-as-the-british-f-35bs-primary-air-to-ground-weapon/

 

[Josh_TN]

The other thing to consider is that if the aircraft itself can geo locate the emitter with good precision (likely with the help of other aircraft from the formation), an ARM type seeker is unnecessary. If the target is sufficiently localized, something with IIR or millimeter wave radar and lock on after launch capability is fine. I suspect AGM-88G as fitted to an F-35 would generally be used that way, though for self defense purposes the the passive RF search would be needed for a quick responses to sudden threats.

 

[GTX]

Hmmm...makes we wonder if thought has ever been given to an ARM version of AIM-132 ASRAAM or AIM-9X - essentially a modern day AGM-122 Sidearm.

 

[kitnut617]

SPEAR-EW I believe you mean - that is an option for the RAF ones at this stage as I understand it. Not sure if anyone else has shown interest yet.

MBDA working on new SPEAR-EW electronic warfare weapon | Press Release | MBDA

SPEAR-EW will integrate a cutting-edge miniaturised EW payload from Leonardo, which will act as a stand-in jammer to greatly increase the survivability of RAF aircraft and suppress enemy air defences, acting as a significant force multiplier.

www.mbda-systems.com

https://theaviationist.com/2021/01/11/mbda-spear-3-selected-as-the-british-f-35bs-primary-air-to-ground-weapon/

Thought so --thanks

 

[TomcatViP]

More details on F-35's tail planes production in Belgium:

Cette joint-venture doit permettre aux trois industriels concernés de fabriquer « de 300 à 400 » empennages horizontaux (en jargon des « Horizontal Tail Planes », HTP) pour les F-35 Lightning II destinés à l’exportation et fabriqués par Lockheed Martin ou des partenaires – ces avions sont aussi assemblés en Italie et au Japon. Ce contrat devrait avoir une valeur de 300 à 400 millions d’euros sur une quinzaine d’années, selon M Delvaux.
-----------------------

This joint venture [b/w Asco, Sabca and Sonaca] should enable the three manufacturers concerned to manufacture “from 300 to 400” horizontal tail units (“Horizontal Tail Planes”, HTP) for the F-35 Lightning II intended for export and manufactured by Lockheed Martin or partners [...]. This contract should be worth 300 to 400 million euros over fifteen years, according to Delvaux.

Joint-venture entre le fédéral et trois entreprises pour monter à bord du programme F-35

Trois entreprises aéronautiques belges, Asco, Sabca et Sonaca, ont créé, avec l’aide de la Société fédérale de participations et d’investissement (SFPI, le bras financier de l’Etat fédéral), une entreprise conjointe pour construire plusieurs centaines d’empennages horizontaux destinés aux avions...

www.sudinfo.be

 

[TomcatViP]

[Ret. Gen. Deptula]
On the opening day of Operation Desert Storm, 20 stealthy F-117s attacked 28 separate targets; it took more than 40 non-stealth aircraft to strike a single target in the same time frame. Any reasonable cost calculus must therefore include a cost-per-effect analysis, comparing not just the unit cost per aircraft but also the number of aircraft needed to deliver an effect in an operational context. On a cost-per-effect basis, the F-35 is clearly a better value than any other combat fighter available today or within the next decade.

While the F-35 has experienced its share of developmental problems, with some still in play, the aircraft is doing well enough to deploy to combat. The reality is that it is advancing a broad range of new technologies and that is a challenging task. These hurdles are not dissimilar to those that the F-15 and F-16 experienced during their entry to service but are now hailed as great successes. When I was first flying the F-15 in the 1970s over half the fleet was grounded due to a lack of operable engines. At one point multiple F-16s were crashing each month. These challenges were solved, as will those facing the F-35.

F-35 Hitmen Put U.S. And Partner Lives At Risk

The F-35 is actually excelling in combat, over a dozen countries are in line to buy it, and the price per unit is below the cost of alternative fighter designs with less capability.

www.forbes.com

 

[TomcatViP]

The flexibility which the B provides is an inherent advantage in the Pacific, with its rich tapestry of islands from which to operate to have the unique “F/A/E -35B” integrate into the emerging Kill Webs as expressed by Rear Admiral Manzer.
[...]
Lt. Col. Bardo, the CO of the VMF-121 Green Knights squadron:
“CAS is considered doctrinally a function which operates only in a permissive air environment.

We can expand CAS to deal with a much wider range of situations than when we would simply operate in a permissive air environment.

And we can provide greater assurance to Marines as they deploy on the ground that we can deal with a much wider array of pop-up threats than we could do with legacy aircraft.”

Green Knights in Japan: The Marines Lead the Way in F-35 Introduction in the Pacific - Second Line of Defense

The Green Knights pioneered the standup of an operational F-35 squadron. They have been operating from Japan for the past four years. Capt. Anneliese Satz, a pilot assigned to the “Green Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, is seen working with Japanese Air Self-Defence Force...

sldinfo.com

 

[bobbymike]

UK ‘Absolutely’ Will Buy More F-35s, Procurement Minister Says

But Jeremy Quin declined to say whether the 138-jet goal remains unchanged.

www.defenseone.com

 

[TomcatViP]

Last month, F-35 fleet logged roughly the same total flight hours that the entire Rafale fleet had logged 2 years ago since its service introduction in 2004 (15 years):

 

[jeffb]

Last month, F-35 fleet logged roughly the same total flight hours that the entire Rafale fleet had logged 2 years ago since its service introduction in 2004 (15 years):


View attachment 654245

View attachment 654247

They left out that the F-35 has shot down more F-35s than the Rafale too.


I'll see myself out...

 

[TomcatViP]

View: https://youtu.be/GNeuIeFnkuE

 

[LowObservable]

Last month, F-35 fleet logged roughly the same total flight hours that the entire Rafale fleet had logged 2 years ago since its service introduction in 2004 (15 years):


View attachment 654245

View attachment 654247

They left out that the F-35 has shot down more F-35s than the Rafale too.


I'll see myself out...

Don't forget the KC-130J...

 

[kitnut617]

It didn't exactly "shoot" it down, more like just ran it over ----

 

[rooster]

Today's F-35As Not Worth Including In High-End War Games According To Air Force General

Comments from one of the Air Force's top officers adds fuel to a newly-swirling and already fiery debate about the future F-35 program, as a whole.

www.thedrive.com

 

[starviking]

Today's F-35As Not Worth Including In High-End War Games According To Air Force General

Comments from one of the Air Force's top officers adds fuel to a newly-swirling and already fiery debate about the future F-35 program, as a whole.

www.thedrive.com

A terrible headline - the officer's words were just reflecting the reality that the current F-35 won't be the iteration in frontline use in 2030.

 

[Helix88]

Last month, F-35 fleet logged roughly the same total flight hours that the entire Rafale fleet had logged 2 years ago since its service introduction in 2004 (15 years):


View attachment 654245

View attachment 654247

They left out that the F-35 has shot down more F-35s than the Rafale too.


I'll see myself out...

Don't forget the KC-130J...

Has there been an official report on what happened there? I was looking the other day but could only find speculation.

 

[Wyvern]

Today's F-35As Not Worth Including In High-End War Games According To Air Force General

Comments from one of the Air Force's top officers adds fuel to a newly-swirling and already fiery debate about the future F-35 program, as a whole.

www.thedrive.com

A terrible headline - the officer's words were just reflecting the reality that the current F-35 won't be the iteration in frontline use in 2030.

As usual, a title meant to be taken out of context by the author.

 

[TomcatViP]

Successful release of an instrumented JSM from F-35A iwb.

Update: JSM successfully released from F-35A

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (Forsvarsmateriellm - FMA), in association with Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA), the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment...

www.janes.com

 

[TomcatViP]

50 F-35 for the UAE:

The administration of US President Joe Biden has told Congress it is proceeding with more than $23bn in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, including advanced F-35 aircraft, armed drones and other equipment, congressional aides said on Tuesday.
[...]
The State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday the estimated delivery dates on the UAE sales, if implemented, were for after 2025 or later.

Biden administration to proceed with $23bn arms sales to UAE

The sale of F-35s, drones and other advanced equipment pushed through by predecessor Donald Trump was being reviewed.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Flyaway]

Here’s a follow up piece on the same website to the above.

Explainer: What the F-35 sales to UAE could mean for the region

US to go ahead with sale of $23bn in advanced fighter jets and drones to the United Arab Emirates.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

F-35 jets face further delay as tests pushed back

Full production cannot commence until simulator checks in the US are finished

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Grey Havoc]

US senators propose roadblock for F-35 sale to UAE

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez has offered a bill that could block F-35 sales to the UAE.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Flyaway]

US senators propose roadblock for F-35 sale to UAE

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez has offered a bill that could block F-35 sales to the UAE.

www.defensenews.com

LM has many lobbyists on the hill, so I really doubt this sale will be stopped.

 

[shin_getter]

“The operating costs of the F-35 are high because they are designed to be” interview with Dan Grazier from the Project On Government Oversight

Dan Grazier is a US Marine Corps veteran, journalist and is now part of the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste. We grille…

hushkit.net

 

[Wyvern]

I find this hilarious.

 

[BDF]

I'm not in the "F-35 is a boondoggle" crowd but anymeans, nor am I in the "F-35 is all conquering" crowd either. There are some valid criticisms of the program, but this guys solution is more of the bullsh!t light weight fighter mafia crowd that POGO seems to attract.

 

[GTX]

I see POGO and F-35 and switch off...