F35 - superfighter or lame duck?

[Manonthestreet]

As negotiations drag on over Lockheed Martin Corp.’s biggest U.S. contracts yet to build F-35 jets, one potential impediment hasn’t attracted public attention: a congressional requirement that the Air Force secretary certify the fighter will be in top shape within two years.

Lawmakers withheld $1 billion of about $5.3 billion the service requested for F-35s this year until the certification is made. The Air Force is the biggest buyer among the military services of the 2,443 aircraft planned for the U.S.
Even if the specified capabilities are delivered for the Air Force version in fiscal 2018, the three models of the F-35 won’t be declared to have full combat capability until they undergo vigorous operational exercises. Those won’t begin until August 2018 at the earliest and then will last as long as a year. That would be a year later than planned. Lockheed’s F-35 Deals Barred Until Air Force Vouches for Fixes
DO nothing air force still all show, no punch til 2019.....

 

[Daryl Hunt]

As negotiations drag on over Lockheed Martin Corp.’s biggest U.S. contracts yet to build F-35 jets, one potential impediment hasn’t attracted public attention: a congressional requirement that the Air Force secretary certify the fighter will be in top shape within two years.

Lawmakers withheld $1 billion of about $5.3 billion the service requested for F-35s this year until the certification is made. The Air Force is the biggest buyer among the military services of the 2,443 aircraft planned for the U.S.
Even if the specified capabilities are delivered for the Air Force version in fiscal 2018, the three models of the F-35 won’t be declared to have full combat capability until they undergo vigorous operational exercises. Those won’t begin until August 2018 at the earliest and then will last as long as a year. That would be a year later than planned. Lockheed’s F-35 Deals Barred Until Air Force Vouches for Fixes
DO nothing air force still all show, no punch til 2019.....

The F-35A and B are already in service. They are both certified. In fact, if the Marines have their way, the F-35B will be in the Middle East flying off of small assault carriers later on this year. They are already flying out of Japan.

The F-35A is ready to join the F-22 in the ME anytime. But the last thing we need to do is to get it into full combat too soon. Right now, the F-22 and the Ge4n 4 birds are doing fine. But let the Russian Ground Stations get too plentiful and have them more agressive than they already are, then the F-35A will be needed fast. We can afford to wait for a few months.

 

[RubberGloveSeduction]

Got nothing do ya but your own opinion vs experts....gee who should we believe????

That is an interesting way to frame out. All those pilots who actual fly the F-35, not just from US but also Norway and Britain = my opinion

The blogs you like to follow by civilians who have never flown the plane = the experts

A pilot quoted as saying by the time they saw the F-35 they were already dead = my opinion, surely we should believe Manonthestreet's claim it isn't stealthy. All those pilots saying they'd prefer to be in an F-35 in air to air combat is my opinion, since Manonthestreet has read in some blog it can't fight.

It'll be fun continuing to watch you eat more and more crow, and hilarious to watch you try to stick to your guns on this. The idiot who says F-35 isn't stealthy.

 

[I amso IR]

Read and weep all nay sayers. IT'S COMING! I would not think of saying "we told you so", those of us who "believe". All you "carrier busting missile types" next comes the integration with the Air Force which does have the range to protect the carrier. Opp's!!!! Zip, bam, thank you ma'am! Sneaky Pete 35 at work.



Navy Conducts First Live Fire NIFC-CA Test with F-35
Navy News Service

In-Depth Coverage
Story Number: NNS160913-15
Release Date: 9/13/2016 2:46:00 PM

From Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, New Mexico (NNS) -- The Navy hosted its first live fire demonstration to successfully test the integration of F-35 with existing Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) architecture Sept. 12.

During the test, an unmodified U.S. Marine Corps F-35B from the Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1, based in Edwards Air Force Base, acted as an elevated sensor to detect an over-the-horizon threat. The aircraft then sent data through its Multi-Function Advanced Data Link to a ground station connected to USS Desert Ship (LLS-1), a land-based launch facility designed to simulate a ship at sea. Using the latest Aegis Weapon System Baseline 9.C1 and a Standard Missile 6, the system successfully detected and engaged the target.

While the goal of this test was to prove the compatibility of these systems within existing NIFC-CA architecture, this future capability will extend the Navy's engagement range to detect, analyze and intercept targets in operational settings. Using any variant of the F-35 as a broad area sensor, the aircraft can significantly increase the Aegis capability to detect, track and engage.

"This test was a great opportunity to assess the Navy's ability to take unrelated technologies and successfully close the fire control loop as well as merge anti-surface and anti-air weapons into a single kill web that shares common sensors, links and weapons," said Anant Patel, major program manager for future combat systems in the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS).

The test was a collaborative effort across the Navy and Marine Corps, White Sands Missile Range and industry partners leveraging a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B and the U.S. Navy's Aegis Weapon System to support the distributed lethality concept in the fleet.

"This test represents the start of our exploration into the interoperability of the F-35B with other naval assets," said Lt. Col. Richard Rusnok, VMX-1 F-35B det. officer in charge. "We believe the F-35B will drastically increase the situational awareness and lethality of the naval forces with which it will deploy in the very near future," he added.

Aegis Baseline 9 delivers a fully open architecture system on U.S. destroyers and is the basis for current and future Aegis Integrated Air and Missile Defense. Baseline 9 is being fielded on in-service destroyers, new construction destroyers and Aegis Ashore. The Aegis Common Source Library enabled derivatives are on the Coast Guard cutters, Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships and will be included on the upcoming frigate ships.

The F-35 Lightning II is a next-generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, advanced mission systems, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and cutting-edge sustainment. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace various aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, and 11 international countries.

PEO IWS is an affiliated Program Executive Office of the Naval Sea Systems Command. IWS is responsible for spearheading surface ship and submarine combat technologies and systems, and for implementing Navy enterprise solutions across ship platforms.





NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
Enter Your Email Address

 

[HenryBHough]

Overstuffed turkey - so overstuffed the stuffing's falling out?

Air Force grounds several of its new F-35s

"WASHINGTON—Less than two months after declaring that the controversial F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was ready for combat, the Air Force on Friday announced that it was temporarily grounding 15 of the jets after it discovered that insulation was "peeling and crumbling" inside the fuel tanks."

"The setback is the latest problem for the $400 billion system, the most expensive in the history of the Pentagon. It comes as the program, which for years faced billions of dollars in cost overruns and significant schedule delays, had begun to make strides. Last year, the Marine Corps had declared its variant ready for combat. And in July, the Air Force gave a similar blessing to its variant."

Yes, boys and girls, OUR tax dollars at work!

 

[I amso IR]

Good to see you back HBH. Got a source for that article?

 

[HenryBHough]

Good to see you back HBH. Got a source for that article?

It's in the link, in red. I just clicked on it to be sure it's working and it seems OK.

In any case, it was published today in The Fairbanks (AK) News-Miner, referring to the F35's that are supposed to be operational from Eilson AFB. Apparently they reprinted it from a Washington newspaper but I haven't looked for the original.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Overstuffed turkey - so overstuffed the stuffing's falling out?

Air Force grounds several of its new F-35s

"WASHINGTON—Less than two months after declaring that the controversial F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was ready for combat, the Air Force on Friday announced that it was temporarily grounding 15 of the jets after it discovered that insulation was "peeling and crumbling" inside the fuel tanks."

"The setback is the latest problem for the $400 billion system, the most expensive in the history of the Pentagon. It comes as the program, which for years faced billions of dollars in cost overruns and significant schedule delays, had begun to make strides. Last year, the Marine Corps had declared its variant ready for combat. And in July, the Air Force gave a similar blessing to its variant."

Yes, boys and girls, OUR tax dollars at work!

When the brand new F-15As dropped into Bitburg in force, for the next year, they were up and down due to TCTOs. Had the Internet been around I am quite sure that some moron would be hammering and trolling just like you.

 

[HenryBHough]

Having no legitimate defense of Obama's overstuffed turkey you turn to personal attack and insult? I mean, faith in one's religion is one thing but defending the undefendable?

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Having no legitimate defense of Obama's overstuffed turkey you turn to personal attack and insult? I mean, faith in one's religion is one thing but defending the undefendable?

Actually, I am capable of doing both. You seem to try and still play the old "I Hate Obama,,,,,,spit on floor......."

 

[HenryBHough]

Really, little fella, we didn't ask for nor do we need further proof.

I will concede that the F35 should strike fear in the hearts of America's enemies. Fear that they might be injured or, perhaps, killed, by parts falling off.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Really, little fella, we didn't ask for nor do we need further proof.

I will concede that the F35 should strike fear in the hearts of America's enemies. Fear that they might be injured or, perhaps, killed, by parts falling off.

Little Fella? Thanks for noticing my 270lb svwelt figure.

It's trains that are dangerous. Planes keep falling on them.

 

[HenryBHough]

I was so wrong to confront faith with mere facts.

 

[I amso IR]

Good to see you back HBH. Got a source for that article?

It's in the link, in red. I just clicked on it to be sure it's working and it seems OK.

In any case, it was published today in The Fairbanks (AK) News-Miner, referring to the F35's that are supposed to be operational from Eilson AFB. Apparently they reprinted it from a Washington newspaper but I haven't looked for the original.

Found it. In my browser it is blue and the first or title line. Thanks

 

[I amso IR]

I am sticking with the future with regards to the 35. Expensive, absolutely! But so would the two or three aircraft needed to replace it, be. And since the "Nerds" seem to have tamed the electronics and programs, the major problems are going bye-bye. She, He or It will be fine and will have a long, useful life as a pilot transporter. Hell the pilot might even be allowed to fly it once in a while as the 35 is far more aware of it's surroundings than the 22 can ever hope to be and the 22 is a fine machine. It and the remaining 4 Gen rely on the 35 for heads up, as well, as the 4 Gen are blind by todays standards. What is really cool is the vast amounts of money it is costing the Chinese and Russians to find the 35's equal. And that is busting their chops big time. Not to mention man made islands to be used as missile pads, which are not movable, simply destroyable. Kinda like the French Maggot Line. The Germans proved the Maggot theory. And there is no telling what the 35's abilities will be in another 10 years. Lasers will be one of the things incorporated, that will be certain. Since lasers can zap an ICBM, in the upper atmosphere or space, low flying aircraft will be a piece of cake, assuming it is reduced to a usable size and weight. And since lasers travel at the speed of light or there abouts, "Katy bar the door". The Navy's rail gun, despite it's short comings, it also a game changer for fleet defense and will simply enhance th abilities of the 35. Aren't communications a wonderful thing? Imagine a 35 talking with a rail gun and directing it's fire. I wonder how many rail guns could be put on a CV? Now that would be "reaching out and touching someone".

 

[Manonthestreet]

The Hawg isn't going anywhere.

"They have re-geared up, we've turned on the depot line, we're building it back up in capacity and supply chain," AFMC chief Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski recently told Aviation Week. "Our command, anyway, is approaching this as another airplane that we are sustaining indefinitely." U.S. Air Force Fires Up the A-10 Depot Line to Keep Warthogs Flying 'Indefinitely'

Theres couple of hundred F-35s we dont need anymore......

 

[Daryl Hunt]

The Hawg isn't going anywhere.

"They have re-geared up, we've turned on the depot line, we're building it back up in capacity and supply chain," AFMC chief Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski recently told Aviation Week. "Our command, anyway, is approaching this as another airplane that we are sustaining indefinitely." U.S. Air Force Fires Up the A-10 Depot Line to Keep Warthogs Flying 'Indefinitely'

Theres couple of hundred F-35s we dont need anymore......

You dance with the gal that brung you. As long as the A-10 in in the inventory it has to be maintained. One thing has nothing to do with the other.

They are still finding things that the F-35 can do and it gets more visitile every day. They are also finding that the AC-130J can do a reasonable job in CAS as well. They've used the F-15E when the conditions were so crappy that the A-10 would have flown into the side of a dune. The B-1 and B-52 is capable of covering CAS.

What the A-10 does is be visible. And with ISIS leaving at high speeds, visible is good. The visiblility is what works, and the 30mm is pretty well worthless on soft targets. The fact that you get to see the A-10 kill you makes the biggest statement the A-10 can make. But the idea is for you to die and any number of AC can get that job done.

 

[Manonthestreet]

UMMMM ...ummmmmm nice try.......you just contradicted bunch of your own blather.............F-35 cant carry enough punch per sortie to rely on ........and F-35 keeps breaking down ..at this rate someone cold do cleansheet fighter right and have it up and runnning before F-35 gets the chance to fail bigtime

 

[westwall]

The Hawg isn't going anywhere.

"They have re-geared up, we've turned on the depot line, we're building it back up in capacity and supply chain," AFMC chief Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski recently told Aviation Week. "Our command, anyway, is approaching this as another airplane that we are sustaining indefinitely." U.S. Air Force Fires Up the A-10 Depot Line to Keep Warthogs Flying 'Indefinitely'

Theres couple of hundred F-35s we dont need anymore......

You dance with the gal that brung you. As long as the A-10 in in the inventory it has to be maintained. One thing has nothing to do with the other.

They are still finding things that the F-35 can do and it gets more visitile every day. They are also finding that the AC-130J can do a reasonable job in CAS as well. They've used the F-15E when the conditions were so crappy that the A-10 would have flown into the side of a dune. The B-1 and B-52 is capable of covering CAS.

What the A-10 does is be visible. And with ISIS leaving at high speeds, visible is good. The visiblility is what works, and the 30mm is pretty well worthless on soft targets. The fact that you get to see the A-10 kill you makes the biggest statement the A-10 can make. But the idea is for you to die and any number of AC can get that job done.

Are you high? The 30mm worthless on soft targets? My buddy who's an FO in the 82nd would beg to differ with you. The AC-130 has been doing CAS for a looooong time. Wasting a B-1 on CAS is moronic. Like most bullshit the Air Force has been doing. Let me seee...What's better at CAS???? An aircraft purpose built for the mission, or a huge fucking strategic bomber? Hmmmm????

 

[alpine]

New fully autonomous ai fighter/bomber jets in testing.

You wont even know what hit you, when one of these suckers are after you...