For the F-35 sceptics: JSF program reaches 2010 goal of 394 test flights

[chex3009]

The F-35C prototype (carrier version) shown here being drop tested. Meanwhile, the US Marine Corps is adamant on seeing the F-35B programme through

News about the F-35... from Lockheed Martin

"On Thursday, December 9, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program team reached its 2010 goal of 394 test flights jointly established by the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office and Lockheed Martin. Since the first flight of the F-35 on December 15, 2006, the program has logged a total of 531 flights, expanding the performance envelope of the three F-35 variants and testing the mission systems.

"We exceeded our 394-flight goal and expect to meet our overall test-point goal this year by reaching ahead and working 2011 test points," said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin vice president of F-35 Test and Verification. "While we are still behind on our overall STOVL variant testing, we are working through a plan to get us back on track."

In November, the program completed 60 flights against a plan of 51. Both the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) and the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants exceeded their monthly flight targets. The F-35C carrier variant (CV) jet fell just two flights short of its plan.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems."

http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2010/12/for-f-35-sceptics-joint-strike-fighter.html

 

[SpArK]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2010/12/22/02.xml&headline=Carter:%20Healthy%20JSF%20Worth%20Slip%20In%20Production&channel=defense

 

[Armand2REP]

The unit price of the F-35A/C is $128 million not including R&D. The unit price of the F-22 was $144 million. F135 engine costs $19 million. You can buy 5 AL-31F turbofans for that much. There are not many nations who can afford a fighter that is twice as expensive as they planned.