F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

[asianobserve]

Liberman unveils Israel’s future stealth fighter: The F-35

http://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-unveils-israels-future-stealth-fighter-the-f-35/

 

[asianobserve]

Engine upgrades in the 2020s could make the F-35 engine longer lasting to reduce eventual operating costs by 30%

Pratt and Whitney is nearing completion of the extensive F135 system development and demonstration (SDD) program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine. They are revealing new details of a proposed upgrade that could cut fuel burn by as much as 7% on aircraft entering service by the early 2020s. The upgrade package builds on a fuel-burn reduction technology effort driven by the U.S. Navy and an improved compressor developed by Pratt.

The improved design is focused on changes to the aerodynamics of the six integrated bladed rotors that form the high-pressure compressor module; it “takes advantage of the advances in aero design capability that have happened since the start of the F135 program,” Kenyon says

http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/06/engine-upgrades-in-2020s-could-make-f.html

 

[asianobserve]

F-35 has 0 losses in 88 strike packages into airspace defended by F15E aggressors

“The F-35 recently deployed from Hill to Mountain Home where crews, maintenance, and support personnel conducted a number of missions.” Chase said, “During that deployment, crews attained a 100 percent sortie generation rate with 88 of 88 planned sorties and a 94 percent hit rate with 15 of 16 bombs on target. These numbers provide a positive indication of where we are when it comes to stability and component performance.” Through these flights the F-35s were challenged by F-15E aggressors, but the F-35s managed to complete all their missions with zero losses. The missions included Offensive Counter-Air (OCA), Air Interdiction (AI), Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD), Defensive Counter-Air (DCA) and Close Air Support (CAS).

http://defense-update.com/20160622_f35_ioc.html

 

[gadeshi]

F-35 has 0 losses in 88 strike packages into airspace defended by F15E aggressors



http://defense-update.com/20160622_f35_ioc.html

Yeah, F-15 had no AWACS in support, no optics and old planar array radars.
Let them try it with Su-30SM (at first).
I'm not telling about S-300PM-2 and ESM/ECM systems protected area.

Отправлено с моего XT1080 через Tapatalk

 

[BON PLAN]

The F-35 is a worldwide air surveillance platform since it is networked. and with many more countries set to operate this jet in the coming decades the surveillance coverage of the US-centric F-35 is massive:

I believe Canada will ultimately be on board the F-35 band wagon. It's security is ultimately intertwined with its neighbor.

138 for United Kingdom... houps.... for England? You really think they will take 138 of it? 50 to 60 is a max.
100 for Turkey ? wait and see....
90 for Italy? nooooo last figure is 35.
52 for Norway? Last figure is between 27 to 37.
Canada? last news is a purchase of SH18 in small number as interim solution.

 

[asianobserve]

138 for United Kingdom... houps.... for England? You really think they will take 138 of it? 50 to 60 is a max.
100 for Turkey ? wait and see....
90 for Italy? nooooo last figure is 35.
52 for Norway? Last figure is between 27 to 37.
Canada? last news is a purchase of SH18 in small number as interim solution.

It must be hard trying to carry the Rafale torch were the oxygen is rapidly being sucked out of the cave. The orders for F-35 will continue to grow given the growing security concerns around the World especially in both Europe and Asia. You add in rapidly ageing frontline planes of US and allies and the vastly improved Russian and Chinese aircrafts expected to come into line then you have a sure market for F-35. There's no serious challenger to F-35, certainly not the Rafale.

 

[asianobserve]

Yeah, F-15 had no AWACS in support, no optics and old planar array radars.
Let them try it with Su-30SM (at first).
I'm not telling about S-300PM-2 and ESM/ECM systems protected area.

Отправлено с моего XT1080 через Tapatalk

The article simply said F-15E. As you know the USAF has started retrofitting F-15Es with APG-82 under its Radar Upgrade Program. So you it is not certain what radar was installed on board the F-15Es used as aggressors in the F-35 testing. We are likewise not certain what were the other assets supporting the F-15E aggressors. The Americans certainly train under the most realistic threat scenario they can envision to enhance their skills.

Anyway, F-15Es older APG-70 radar is still superior to the widespread radar on Russian-made Flanker variants, N-001 or the later N-011. So even if we grant that those F-15Es were still sporting the older APG-70 radars it could be said that the F-35s were facing a realistic current threat scenario. And the 100% survival rate in all the 88 sorties is in itself very remarkable. Only Rafale and Russian-jet peddlers will even attempt to belittle that early stage of F-35 achievement.

 

[asianobserve]

Brexit, with the falling Pound, may have an impact on the cost of British F-35 orders.

 

[BON PLAN]

It must be hard trying to carry the Rafale torch were the oxygen is rapidly being sucked out of the cave. The orders for F-35 will continue to grow given the growing security concerns around the World especially in both Europe and Asia. You add in rapidly ageing frontline planes of US and allies and the vastly improved Russian and Chinese aircrafts expected to come into line then you have a sure market for F-35. There's no serious challenger to F-35, certainly not the Rafale.

And be sure USAF WILL NOT order such amount of F35 ! too costly to buy and to operate. They will increase fleet of UCAV instead.

 

[BON PLAN]

Brexit, with the falling Pound, may have an impact on the cost of British F-35 orders.

Absolutely.
But even before Brexit (a good news for me, french), GB plan wasn't to buy 138 planes. This figure was before all the next defense reviews. Just to catch some work from LM....

 

[asianobserve]

And be sure USAF WILL NOT order such amount of F35 ! too costly to buy and to operate. They will increase fleet of UCAV instead.

Reminds me of the prediction of Pierre Sprey that only 500 F-35s will be produced. F-35 haters have all sorts of predictions that are slowly being proven wrong as the aircraft matures. The cost of producing F-35 is going down as Lockheed and partners garner more experience and newer tech. And the price of the F-35A will definitely be lower than Rafale even before it reaches full rate production.

In LRIP-8 awarded on Nov. 2014, the price per unit of F-35A was only $94.8M, F-35B was $102M while F-35C was $115.7 with an average price per unit of $104.1M. The LRIP-9 contract for 55 units across all three versions was awarded in Nov. 2015 totaled $5.37B. On average that's about $97.63M per unit. The F-35A which is the cheapest and the most numerous of the three will be less than $90M per unit in this LRIP-9 order.

Rafale's fly-away price on the other hand is almost $95M. If you ask me it's really overpriced for an old duck.

But the cost advantage of the F-35 should not come as surprising. The magnitude of the order alone is huge which with economies of scale is sure to drive down the cost. Notice that the cost of the F-35 is supposed to be even lower if not for the effort to internationalize or spread production process to partner countries.

It will take sometime before UCAVs mature. In the meantime the fleet of the USAF, US Navy and Marines as well as US allies are ageing quickly. They needed to be replaced soon and UCAV tech will not be able able to service these pressing need.

 

[asianobserve]

Absolutely.
But even before Brexit (a good news for me, french), GB plan wasn't to buy 138 planes. This figure was before all the next defense reviews. Just to catch some work from LM....

I don't know how Brexit is good news for the EU or for the French? The UK was the second biggest economy in the EU and its departure will surely deflate EU's weight. And I don't know your political leaning but I think it is not far fetched that France also makes its own Frexit.

UK still needs more F-35s. Already there is talk of a future F-35A order for the RAF.

 

[BON PLAN]

Reminds me of the prediction of Pierre Sprey that only 500 F-35s will be produced. F-35 haters have all sorts of predictions that are slowly being proven wrong as the aircraft matures. The cost of producing F-35 is going down as Lockheed and partners garner more experience and newer tech. And the price of the F-35A will definitely be lower than Rafale even before it reaches full rate production.

In LRIP-8 awarded on Nov. 2014, the price per unit of F-35A was only $94.8M, F-35B was $102M while F-35C was $115.7 with an average price per unit of $104.1M. The LRIP-9 contract for 55 units across all three versions was awarded in Nov. 2015 totaled $5.37B. On average that's about $97.63M per unit. The F-35A which is the cheapest and the most numerous of the three will be less than $90M per unit in this LRIP-9 order.

Rafale's fly-away price on the other hand is almost $95M. If you ask me it's really overpriced for an old duck.

But the cost advantage of the F-35 should not come as surprising. The magnitude of the order alone is huge which with economies of scale is sure to drive down the cost. Notice that the cost of the F-35 is supposed to be even lower if not for the effort to internationalize or spread production process to partner countries.

It will take sometime before UCAVs mature. In the meantime the fleet of the USAF, US Navy and Marines as well as US allies are ageing quickly. They needed to be replaced soon and UCAV tech will not be able able to service these pressing need.

I'm afraid cost of F35 is without engine....

 

[BON PLAN]

I don't know how Brexit is good news for the EU or for the French? The UK was the second biggest economy in the EU and its departure will surely deflate EU's weight. And I don't know your political leaning but I think it is not far fetched that France also makes its own Frexit.

UK still needs more F-35s. Already there is talk of a future F-35A order for the RAF.

Just have a look to pound value in the next days/weeks.... You will have an answer for GB economy.
And just see the poll for BREGRET ....

GB came in EU by the ass, the head remaining oriented to the USA...

They always asked for special rules, special discounts.... It's good for EU because GB is a drag. And with Brexit i'm sure EU will move to more efficiency. Without GB !!!

For F35 : maybe another batch. and over. Max 50 to 60 planes. It's only my opinion, and everyone is free of course. But just see the initial forecast and real purchase of Eurofighter by GB ....

 

[asianobserve]

Double rainbow greets F35 jet on historic first landing in UK

http://www.itv.com/news/2016-06-30/double-rainbow-greets-f35-jet-on-historic-first-landing-in-uk/

 

[asianobserve]

Eurofighter Typhoons escort three British and American F-35Bs arriving in the UK for the first time

https://theaviationist.com/2016/06/...f-35bs-arriving-in-the-uk-for-the-first-time/

 

[asianobserve]

3 USAF F-35As arrived in UK for RIAT 2016

http://aviationweek.com/defense/pictures-f-35as-crossing-atlantic#slide-10-field_images-1475921

 

[asianobserve]

A video from the Atlantic crossing:

 

[asianobserve]

Video from the earlier trans-Atlantic crossing of 3 F-35Bs:

 

[asianobserve]

F-35Bs UK arrival after first trans-Atlantic flight for this kind of F-35: