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I just watched it fly, nothing impressive about it.
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
- Thread starter 1.44
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it doesn't surprise me at all.
if there were something made in china which could surprise you, it must be "star-destroyer" made in China.
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Report Reveals F-35 in Trouble
By DAVE MAJUMDAR
Published: 18 Jan 2011 17:12
The F-35 Lightning II strike fighter has previously undisclosed problems with its handling, avionics, afterburner and helmet-mounted display, according to a report by the Pentagon's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.
An F-35B Joint Strike Fighter descends to a vertical landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Jan. 6. A report says more problems have been found with the F-35 program, but officials say they are well on their way to fixing the issues. (Phaedra Loftis / Lockheed Martin)
Both the U.S. Air Force F-35A variant and U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B model experienced "transonic wing roll-off, [and] greater than expected sideslip during medium angle-of-attack testing," the report said.
The report also says that various components are not as reliable as expected.
Additionally, the Pratt and Whitney F-135 engine has encountered an afterburner "screech," in which airflow disruptions cause severe vibrations, preventing the engine from reaching maximum power. That problem has delayed some required testing.
According to the report, the program has already begun efforts to fix the problem. Pratt and Whitney officials were not immediately available for comment.
Further, the report indicates problems with the aircraft's helmet-mounted display (HMD). Unlike many previous aircraft, the F-35 does not have a cockpit-mounted head-up display; the pilot instead views critical data projected on the helmet visor.
The report does not elaborate on the nature of the problems, but says they must be solved before the Block 2 mission systems software can be tested. Currently, the program is testing preliminary Block 0.5 and Block 1 mission systems software. Block 2 would incrementally increase the aircraft's capabilities and would be followed by the fully mission-capable Block 3 software.
A Lockheed Martin official could not immediately describe the technical problems with the display.
"The F-35 air system advances Helmet Mounted Display technology to capabilities not flying today on any other tactical platform. With this advancement in technology come challenges that the program is actively managing. The challenges are being worked with the supplier," said Lockheed Martin spokesman John Kent.
"While there are no current plans to change suppliers, options are being considered in parallel that mitigate the most stressing issues. Flight testing is proceeding with the HMD installed and used with no safety of flight concerns."
The report also calls for the Block 3 mission system software to be tested on a simulated battlefield because existing test ranges are not adequate to test the F-35's sensor arrays.
"Open-air testing is constrained by range limitations that are incapable of providing realistic testing of many key capabilities provided by Block 3 aircraft," the report says.
The report also calls for the aircraft's On-Board Inert Gas Generations System, which generates inert gases to prevent oxygen building up inside the fuel tanks, to be redesigned.
"The OBIGGS system fails to inert the fuel tank ullage spaces throughout the combat flight envelopes evaluated," the report says.
The report recommends program officials redesign the OBIGGS system "to ensure that the fuel tank ullage volume oxygen concentrations are maintained below levels that sustain fire and/or explosion throughout the combat flight envelopes."
These issues are in addition to the known difficulties with the B-model aircraft's insufficiently strong structural bulkhead and problems with auxiliary air inlet doors on the aircraft's top surface.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5484169&c=AME&s=AIR
By DAVE MAJUMDAR
Published: 18 Jan 2011 17:12
The F-35 Lightning II strike fighter has previously undisclosed problems with its handling, avionics, afterburner and helmet-mounted display, according to a report by the Pentagon's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.
An F-35B Joint Strike Fighter descends to a vertical landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Jan. 6. A report says more problems have been found with the F-35 program, but officials say they are well on their way to fixing the issues. (Phaedra Loftis / Lockheed Martin)
Both the U.S. Air Force F-35A variant and U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B model experienced "transonic wing roll-off, [and] greater than expected sideslip during medium angle-of-attack testing," the report said.
The report also says that various components are not as reliable as expected.
Additionally, the Pratt and Whitney F-135 engine has encountered an afterburner "screech," in which airflow disruptions cause severe vibrations, preventing the engine from reaching maximum power. That problem has delayed some required testing.
According to the report, the program has already begun efforts to fix the problem. Pratt and Whitney officials were not immediately available for comment.
Further, the report indicates problems with the aircraft's helmet-mounted display (HMD). Unlike many previous aircraft, the F-35 does not have a cockpit-mounted head-up display; the pilot instead views critical data projected on the helmet visor.
The report does not elaborate on the nature of the problems, but says they must be solved before the Block 2 mission systems software can be tested. Currently, the program is testing preliminary Block 0.5 and Block 1 mission systems software. Block 2 would incrementally increase the aircraft's capabilities and would be followed by the fully mission-capable Block 3 software.
A Lockheed Martin official could not immediately describe the technical problems with the display.
"The F-35 air system advances Helmet Mounted Display technology to capabilities not flying today on any other tactical platform. With this advancement in technology come challenges that the program is actively managing. The challenges are being worked with the supplier," said Lockheed Martin spokesman John Kent.
"While there are no current plans to change suppliers, options are being considered in parallel that mitigate the most stressing issues. Flight testing is proceeding with the HMD installed and used with no safety of flight concerns."
The report also calls for the Block 3 mission system software to be tested on a simulated battlefield because existing test ranges are not adequate to test the F-35's sensor arrays.
"Open-air testing is constrained by range limitations that are incapable of providing realistic testing of many key capabilities provided by Block 3 aircraft," the report says.
The report also calls for the aircraft's On-Board Inert Gas Generations System, which generates inert gases to prevent oxygen building up inside the fuel tanks, to be redesigned.
"The OBIGGS system fails to inert the fuel tank ullage spaces throughout the combat flight envelopes evaluated," the report says.
The report recommends program officials redesign the OBIGGS system "to ensure that the fuel tank ullage volume oxygen concentrations are maintained below levels that sustain fire and/or explosion throughout the combat flight envelopes."
These issues are in addition to the known difficulties with the B-model aircraft's insufficiently strong structural bulkhead and problems with auxiliary air inlet doors on the aircraft's top surface.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5484169&c=AME&s=AIR
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I tell you, these King of Noodle bowls really suprise me. For 6 quai you get these awesome noodles with spices included, throw in another 4 for meat to put in it and you get a feast for 10 quai. I am a regular at the Apple convenience store that sells them.
black eagle
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Emergency debate on Joint Strike Fighter
A request by the Green Left party in the Dutch parliament for an emergency debate has been granted following the release of US cables revealing comments by the Ministry of Defense regarding the purchase of Joint Strike Fighter planes.
The cables sent by the US embassy in The Hague in 2007 were uncovered by Wikileaks and passed onto Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad.
The newspaper says the United States was better informed on the government's position with regard to the project than parliament. For instance in 2007, the US was aware that the ministry did not have enough money to buy all 85 planes wanted by the armed forces to replace Dutch F-16 fighter planes.
In parliament the minister has always said the government intends to purchase all 85 planes. The conservative VVD did not support the motion for an emergency debate saying parliament was poorly informed by the newspaper.
The minister recently revealed for the first time that the cost of a single plane was 60 million euros. The whole project is costing 1.4 billion euros on top of the original estimate of 6.2 billion euros. The current government says it plans to purchase two test planes.
http://www.rnw.nl/africa/bulletin/emergency-debate-joint-strike-fighter
A request by the Green Left party in the Dutch parliament for an emergency debate has been granted following the release of US cables revealing comments by the Ministry of Defense regarding the purchase of Joint Strike Fighter planes.
The cables sent by the US embassy in The Hague in 2007 were uncovered by Wikileaks and passed onto Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad.
The newspaper says the United States was better informed on the government's position with regard to the project than parliament. For instance in 2007, the US was aware that the ministry did not have enough money to buy all 85 planes wanted by the armed forces to replace Dutch F-16 fighter planes.
In parliament the minister has always said the government intends to purchase all 85 planes. The conservative VVD did not support the motion for an emergency debate saying parliament was poorly informed by the newspaper.
The minister recently revealed for the first time that the cost of a single plane was 60 million euros. The whole project is costing 1.4 billion euros on top of the original estimate of 6.2 billion euros. The current government says it plans to purchase two test planes.
http://www.rnw.nl/africa/bulletin/emergency-debate-joint-strike-fighter
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The Dutch DefMin wants it, but it has no support in parliament. They expected it to cost $60 million, now it costs $120 million. Forget about it...
black eagle
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Lockheed Cross-Breeding Raptors, Joint Strike Fighters
By David Axe
It's the beginning of the end for one of the most controversial weapons in decades. Nine years after the F-22 Raptor entered production at a complex of factories stretching from Georgia to Washington State, the major components for the 195th and last copy of the radar-evading, Mach-2 jet are winding their way to Lockheed Martin's final assembly facility in Marietta, Georgia. Raptor 4195, as the last example is known, is slated for handover to the U.S. Air Force in February 2012. The total bill so far: $65 billion, for a per-copy cost of more than $300 million.
Production aside, the Raptor's story is really just beginning. Compared to the Air Force's current armada of 1,500 F-15s and F-16s (not to mention the projected future fleet of 1,800 stealthy Lockheed-built F-35s), the Raptor force might seem tiny. But pound for pound, the F-22 is by far the most capable fighter plane in the world. The Air Force and Lockheed have big plans for keep the Raptor on top for the next 30 years.
The main idea: to make the F-22 more like the potentially cheaper F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that's taking the Raptor's place in Pentagon budgets. Not too long ago, the Pentagon defended its decision to curtail the F-22 program by claiming the F-35 was more modern. F-22 boosters countered that the Raptor could do things the F-35 couldn't. If Lockheed's plan moves forward, it could substantially erase the differences between the two jets.
The way Lockheed imagines it, in the near future the F-22 and F-35 will have compatible computer systems, allowing them to "teach" each other new skills. "There's a tremendous opportunity to leverage the technological advantages the F-35 has been able to have because it's a newer platform," Jeff Babione, Lockheed's top F-22 official, told Danger Room. "At the same time, it would allow the F-22 to develop technology that can go back to the F-35. This synergy has never existed in two airplanes before."
Observers might be surprised to learn that the F-22 and F-35 aren't already compatible. Both are Lockheed designs. Both are assembled by the same workers in some of the same factories. They even look alike, although the F-22 is bigger and has two engines, as opposed to the F-35's single motor. For all that, the F-22 and F-35 use totally different computer systems and thus different software. "Improving hardware or software on the F-35 yields no benefit for the F-22, and vice versa," Flight's Steve Trimble noted last month.
Trimble implied that Lockheed might try adding the F-35's black boxes to the dozen-or-so F-22s still in some stage of final assembly in Marietta. Babione told Danger Room that's not going to happen. "It would be down the line," he admitted. The Air Force has plotted out nearly $10 billion in near-term F-22 upgrades — better radars, more weapons, enhanced communications — and the F-35-style computers could be folded into that process, "probably within the next several years, if the U.S. Air Force chooses to do it," Babione said.
One example of possible "synergy" between the two fighters is the so-called Multifunction Airborne Data Link, or "MADL." The Air Force developed the narrow-spectrum MADL radio waveform to allow stealthy jets to send each other information without giving away their locations. The B-2 bomber has MADL. So does the F-35. But the Air Force has balked at installing MADL on the F-22, owing to the high cost of developing new software. If the F-22 had the F-35's black boxes, adding MADL would be easier.
Making the F-22 and F-35 compatible could come with a significant price tag up front. That doesn't surprise aviation uber-reporter Bill Sweetman, who recently pointed out the high cost of "piecemeal" improvements to the F-22. "The $1.3 billion for one year's upgrade work on the F-22 is considerably more than the entire cost of Sweden's JAS 39C/D Gripen upgrade," Sweetman wrote, referring to Stockholm's efforts to overhaul its 100-strong fighter force.
Still, Lockheed seems reasonably confident the Air Force will opt for this upgrade and others. The company is in the process of breaking down all the workstations at its Raptor factories across the United States. The preserved tooling, plus in-depth electronic instruction manuals for its use, will be stored at an Army depot in California, ready for re-assembly the moment the Pentagon orders Raptor modifications.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/12/lockheed-cross-breeding-raptors-joint-strike-fighters/
By David Axe
It's the beginning of the end for one of the most controversial weapons in decades. Nine years after the F-22 Raptor entered production at a complex of factories stretching from Georgia to Washington State, the major components for the 195th and last copy of the radar-evading, Mach-2 jet are winding their way to Lockheed Martin's final assembly facility in Marietta, Georgia. Raptor 4195, as the last example is known, is slated for handover to the U.S. Air Force in February 2012. The total bill so far: $65 billion, for a per-copy cost of more than $300 million.
Production aside, the Raptor's story is really just beginning. Compared to the Air Force's current armada of 1,500 F-15s and F-16s (not to mention the projected future fleet of 1,800 stealthy Lockheed-built F-35s), the Raptor force might seem tiny. But pound for pound, the F-22 is by far the most capable fighter plane in the world. The Air Force and Lockheed have big plans for keep the Raptor on top for the next 30 years.
The main idea: to make the F-22 more like the potentially cheaper F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that's taking the Raptor's place in Pentagon budgets. Not too long ago, the Pentagon defended its decision to curtail the F-22 program by claiming the F-35 was more modern. F-22 boosters countered that the Raptor could do things the F-35 couldn't. If Lockheed's plan moves forward, it could substantially erase the differences between the two jets.
The way Lockheed imagines it, in the near future the F-22 and F-35 will have compatible computer systems, allowing them to "teach" each other new skills. "There's a tremendous opportunity to leverage the technological advantages the F-35 has been able to have because it's a newer platform," Jeff Babione, Lockheed's top F-22 official, told Danger Room. "At the same time, it would allow the F-22 to develop technology that can go back to the F-35. This synergy has never existed in two airplanes before."
Observers might be surprised to learn that the F-22 and F-35 aren't already compatible. Both are Lockheed designs. Both are assembled by the same workers in some of the same factories. They even look alike, although the F-22 is bigger and has two engines, as opposed to the F-35's single motor. For all that, the F-22 and F-35 use totally different computer systems and thus different software. "Improving hardware or software on the F-35 yields no benefit for the F-22, and vice versa," Flight's Steve Trimble noted last month.
Trimble implied that Lockheed might try adding the F-35's black boxes to the dozen-or-so F-22s still in some stage of final assembly in Marietta. Babione told Danger Room that's not going to happen. "It would be down the line," he admitted. The Air Force has plotted out nearly $10 billion in near-term F-22 upgrades — better radars, more weapons, enhanced communications — and the F-35-style computers could be folded into that process, "probably within the next several years, if the U.S. Air Force chooses to do it," Babione said.
One example of possible "synergy" between the two fighters is the so-called Multifunction Airborne Data Link, or "MADL." The Air Force developed the narrow-spectrum MADL radio waveform to allow stealthy jets to send each other information without giving away their locations. The B-2 bomber has MADL. So does the F-35. But the Air Force has balked at installing MADL on the F-22, owing to the high cost of developing new software. If the F-22 had the F-35's black boxes, adding MADL would be easier.
Making the F-22 and F-35 compatible could come with a significant price tag up front. That doesn't surprise aviation uber-reporter Bill Sweetman, who recently pointed out the high cost of "piecemeal" improvements to the F-22. "The $1.3 billion for one year's upgrade work on the F-22 is considerably more than the entire cost of Sweden's JAS 39C/D Gripen upgrade," Sweetman wrote, referring to Stockholm's efforts to overhaul its 100-strong fighter force.
Still, Lockheed seems reasonably confident the Air Force will opt for this upgrade and others. The company is in the process of breaking down all the workstations at its Raptor factories across the United States. The preserved tooling, plus in-depth electronic instruction manuals for its use, will be stored at an Army depot in California, ready for re-assembly the moment the Pentagon orders Raptor modifications.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/12/lockheed-cross-breeding-raptors-joint-strike-fighters/
Neil
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BAE Systems wins mission planning software contract for F-35
BAE Systems has signed a $3.8 million contract to continue supplying the secure operating system that runs the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's mission-planning software. "The most advanced aircraft in the world demands the most sophisticated technology in the world," said John Lewington, director of Cyber Security Solutions for BAE Systems. "This demonstrates our expertise in providing innovative cyber solutions that meet our customers unique information-sharing needs."
The company's operating system collects data at different security levels and is used by the aircraft's software to develop the mission plan, which includes intelligence, weather, communications and navigation. The information is then loaded on to the jet for mission execution. When it is complete and the plane has returned, the operating system parses the data according to its security classification. The process is known as a cross domain transfer that occurs within seconds.
Trusted computer systems are a cornerstone of the cyber security market, and BAE Systems technology continues to be recognized for its capabilities. The XTS-400 Trusted Computer System recently received a fifth patent for its ability to control information access between processes, file systems objects and devices, complementing existing security and integrity safeguards.
BAE Systems is a global defence and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security and information technology solutions. BAE Systems is a key partner on the F-35 programme and brings military aircraft expertise that is critical to the F-35 Lightning II airframe and systems. The F-35 Lightning II programme is the world's largest defence programme, with current stated requirements from initial customers for approximately 3,000 aircrafts. BAE Systems is teamed with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to deliver the F-35 Lightning II.
http://www.defenceaviation.com/2011...aign=Feed:+DefenceAviation+(Defence+Aviation)
BAE Systems has signed a $3.8 million contract to continue supplying the secure operating system that runs the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's mission-planning software. "The most advanced aircraft in the world demands the most sophisticated technology in the world," said John Lewington, director of Cyber Security Solutions for BAE Systems. "This demonstrates our expertise in providing innovative cyber solutions that meet our customers unique information-sharing needs."
The company's operating system collects data at different security levels and is used by the aircraft's software to develop the mission plan, which includes intelligence, weather, communications and navigation. The information is then loaded on to the jet for mission execution. When it is complete and the plane has returned, the operating system parses the data according to its security classification. The process is known as a cross domain transfer that occurs within seconds.
Trusted computer systems are a cornerstone of the cyber security market, and BAE Systems technology continues to be recognized for its capabilities. The XTS-400 Trusted Computer System recently received a fifth patent for its ability to control information access between processes, file systems objects and devices, complementing existing security and integrity safeguards.
BAE Systems is a global defence and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security and information technology solutions. BAE Systems is a key partner on the F-35 programme and brings military aircraft expertise that is critical to the F-35 Lightning II airframe and systems. The F-35 Lightning II programme is the world's largest defence programme, with current stated requirements from initial customers for approximately 3,000 aircrafts. BAE Systems is teamed with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to deliver the F-35 Lightning II.
http://www.defenceaviation.com/2011...aign=Feed:+DefenceAviation+(Defence+Aviation)
neo29
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Turkey having second thoughts on F-35
Turkey is seriously reconsidering the myriad agreements it has signed with the US, as well as its participation in an international consortium for the procurement of new generation fighter jets, due to rising costs and persisting problems originating from the American side.Turkey is now seeking new ways to sidestep difficulties in the procurement of F-16 fighter planes, which it has been jointly producing with the US since 1987, due to the delayed delivery by the US authorities of some of the plane's parts and accessories. There have been serious doubts as to whether Turkey's plan to purchase 100 F-35 fighter planes would ever materialize, as the country is thinking about withdrawing from the consortium following the hike in costs that resulted from other countries leaving from the consortium.
With 240 F-16s, Turkey has the third largest fleet of these fighter jets after the US and Israel. Turkey chose the F-16 to use in its air force in the early 1980s, and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TA?) was established soon after the decision. Between 1987 and 1995, TA? assembled 152 planes in the first phase of the F-16 project. The second phase took place between 1995 and 1999, and 80 planes were assembled. Turkey received its first overseas order for F-16 planes in 1993 from the Egyptian air force and assembled 46 planes for them.
Recently TAI upgraded the first of 17 planes for Jordan's air force within the context of a modernization program. Several Turkey-made planes have also been dispatched to Pakistan.
In total TA? has assembled 278 F-16s since it first began operations in 1987. During production, 29 planes were produced with no mistakes and three of them were considered "perfect." Considering that only nine F-16 planes are produced as perfect out of 4,000 fighter jets in the world, Turkey's success is conspicuous.
Turkey suspended production of the F-16 in 2000, but these fighter jets still remain the backbone of the Turkish armed forces.
Strained ties delayed delivery of plane accessories As the agreement between the US and Turkey expired in 2000, Turkey has continued to work with Israel in modernizing the F-16s. Turkey has attempted to compensate for several mistakes that occurred while working with the US through several deals with Israel. The fundamental problem was that the US did not hand the F-16s directly to the Turkish Air Forces and it required TA?-made planes be tested in the US before the eventual delivery to the Turkish Air Forces.
The US had also refused to provide source codes for the software of F-16s to Turkey since the inception of the joint production. Tensions in the relations between the US and Turkey have recently spawned a series of crises in this particular sphere, a possibility which Turkey has overlooked for years.
A senior official at the Turkish Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) confided in Today's Zaman that the US is not willing to provide vital parts of the F-16 planes to Turkey in contrast to agreements the two countries have signed in the past few years.
The same senior official said the US delayed the fulfillment its duties specified in the agreements it signed with Turkey between 1987 and 1995 and that this has caused serious problems in modernization of F-16s.
The official lamented that Turkey is experiencing very serious problems in obtaining parts and accessories for the planes as ties with Israel collapsed, and that he finds it noteworthy to stress that the US administration has made congressional approval a precondition of selling any sort of weaponry and military equipment.
Last October the US expressed concerns that Turkey was using US-made F-16s in the Turkey-China aerial exercises, which took place in the Central Anatolian town of Konya, but Turkey reassured the US administration that no US-made jets were used in the joint drill.
Turkey decided to modernize 165 F-16 planes on Dec. 11, 2009 and several Israeli firms were competing to win the tender, along with Turkey's TUSA? and HAVELSAN. All projects between Turkey and Israel in the areas of military training and cooperation were frozen in mid-June after the lethal May 31 Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, leaving left nine civilians dead. The two countries were set to realize a $757 million plane and tank modernization project but this project was also shelved. The Turkish government decided to give the modernization tender to Turkish firms after Turkish-Israeli ties became strained.
A $240 million modernization project was given to Turkish companies, but 30 percent of the plane's parts will be provided by the US military behemoth Lockheed Martin.
Turkey is also considering its participation in the world's largest military consortium that is planning to produce 3,000 F-35 fighter jets. Turkey is the ninth country to take part in the production process of the F-35 warplane project. The other countries are the US, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Canada and Norway. Turkey is expected to purchase 100 F-35 jets in the next 15 to 20 years. Rising costs pushed several countries to withdraw from the $280 billion project, and the same senior official said Turkey might also consider withdrawing.
The Defense Industry Executive Committee (SS?K), under the aegis of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, will make its final decision in April. The SS?K is seeking ways to jointly produce some parts of F-35 fighter planes with the American General Electric Co. and the Rolls-Royce Group in Turkey.
Turkey is also deliberating the exchange of its F-16s for F-35s within a reasonable time period. Turkey is expected to pay nearly $11 billion for 100 F-35 fighter jets. Citing rising costs in production, the consortium is asking Turkey for an additional $4 billion for the F-35s, but Turkey is reluctant to pay this amount. As some countries have withdrawn from the project, Turkey will reportedly have to pay up to $25 billion for the project.Turkey is planning joint warplane production with Gulf countries
Turkey has made a radical shift recently, deciding to produce its first fleet of national fighter jets following crises in F-16 and F-35 projects with the US and Israel.
Turkish authorities decided during a Defense Industry Executive Committee (SS?K) meeting last December to begin production on the first Turkish fighter jets in 2020 in order to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). TUSA? Engine Industries Inc. (TE?) and TA? will be the leading companies that will undertake production of these fighter jets, planning to design and produce plane engines by 2015.
Israel claimed that Turkey will fail to produce these jets as no country in the world would dare to build its own planes without participating in a consortium due to the high costs.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Adana deputy Kür?at At?lgan told Today's Zaman that no country could produce a fighter jet by itself and for lucrative production, there needs to be at least 400 jets produced. Considering this fact, Turkey had been secretly trying to build a consortium with neighboring and friendly countries. In last month's SS?K meeting, Gönül also talked about the possibility of joint production of fighter jets with South Korean companies. This issue was raised during Erdo?an's recent visit to Gulf countries. Turkey thinks it will be easier to produce its own fighter jets with five countries involved in the region.
http://idrw.org/?p=2461
Turkey is seriously reconsidering the myriad agreements it has signed with the US, as well as its participation in an international consortium for the procurement of new generation fighter jets, due to rising costs and persisting problems originating from the American side.Turkey is now seeking new ways to sidestep difficulties in the procurement of F-16 fighter planes, which it has been jointly producing with the US since 1987, due to the delayed delivery by the US authorities of some of the plane's parts and accessories. There have been serious doubts as to whether Turkey's plan to purchase 100 F-35 fighter planes would ever materialize, as the country is thinking about withdrawing from the consortium following the hike in costs that resulted from other countries leaving from the consortium.
With 240 F-16s, Turkey has the third largest fleet of these fighter jets after the US and Israel. Turkey chose the F-16 to use in its air force in the early 1980s, and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TA?) was established soon after the decision. Between 1987 and 1995, TA? assembled 152 planes in the first phase of the F-16 project. The second phase took place between 1995 and 1999, and 80 planes were assembled. Turkey received its first overseas order for F-16 planes in 1993 from the Egyptian air force and assembled 46 planes for them.
Recently TAI upgraded the first of 17 planes for Jordan's air force within the context of a modernization program. Several Turkey-made planes have also been dispatched to Pakistan.
In total TA? has assembled 278 F-16s since it first began operations in 1987. During production, 29 planes were produced with no mistakes and three of them were considered "perfect." Considering that only nine F-16 planes are produced as perfect out of 4,000 fighter jets in the world, Turkey's success is conspicuous.
Turkey suspended production of the F-16 in 2000, but these fighter jets still remain the backbone of the Turkish armed forces.
Strained ties delayed delivery of plane accessories As the agreement between the US and Turkey expired in 2000, Turkey has continued to work with Israel in modernizing the F-16s. Turkey has attempted to compensate for several mistakes that occurred while working with the US through several deals with Israel. The fundamental problem was that the US did not hand the F-16s directly to the Turkish Air Forces and it required TA?-made planes be tested in the US before the eventual delivery to the Turkish Air Forces.
The US had also refused to provide source codes for the software of F-16s to Turkey since the inception of the joint production. Tensions in the relations between the US and Turkey have recently spawned a series of crises in this particular sphere, a possibility which Turkey has overlooked for years.
A senior official at the Turkish Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) confided in Today's Zaman that the US is not willing to provide vital parts of the F-16 planes to Turkey in contrast to agreements the two countries have signed in the past few years.
The same senior official said the US delayed the fulfillment its duties specified in the agreements it signed with Turkey between 1987 and 1995 and that this has caused serious problems in modernization of F-16s.
The official lamented that Turkey is experiencing very serious problems in obtaining parts and accessories for the planes as ties with Israel collapsed, and that he finds it noteworthy to stress that the US administration has made congressional approval a precondition of selling any sort of weaponry and military equipment.
Last October the US expressed concerns that Turkey was using US-made F-16s in the Turkey-China aerial exercises, which took place in the Central Anatolian town of Konya, but Turkey reassured the US administration that no US-made jets were used in the joint drill.
Turkey decided to modernize 165 F-16 planes on Dec. 11, 2009 and several Israeli firms were competing to win the tender, along with Turkey's TUSA? and HAVELSAN. All projects between Turkey and Israel in the areas of military training and cooperation were frozen in mid-June after the lethal May 31 Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, leaving left nine civilians dead. The two countries were set to realize a $757 million plane and tank modernization project but this project was also shelved. The Turkish government decided to give the modernization tender to Turkish firms after Turkish-Israeli ties became strained.
A $240 million modernization project was given to Turkish companies, but 30 percent of the plane's parts will be provided by the US military behemoth Lockheed Martin.
Turkey is also considering its participation in the world's largest military consortium that is planning to produce 3,000 F-35 fighter jets. Turkey is the ninth country to take part in the production process of the F-35 warplane project. The other countries are the US, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Canada and Norway. Turkey is expected to purchase 100 F-35 jets in the next 15 to 20 years. Rising costs pushed several countries to withdraw from the $280 billion project, and the same senior official said Turkey might also consider withdrawing.
The Defense Industry Executive Committee (SS?K), under the aegis of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, will make its final decision in April. The SS?K is seeking ways to jointly produce some parts of F-35 fighter planes with the American General Electric Co. and the Rolls-Royce Group in Turkey.
Turkey is also deliberating the exchange of its F-16s for F-35s within a reasonable time period. Turkey is expected to pay nearly $11 billion for 100 F-35 fighter jets. Citing rising costs in production, the consortium is asking Turkey for an additional $4 billion for the F-35s, but Turkey is reluctant to pay this amount. As some countries have withdrawn from the project, Turkey will reportedly have to pay up to $25 billion for the project.Turkey is planning joint warplane production with Gulf countries
Turkey has made a radical shift recently, deciding to produce its first fleet of national fighter jets following crises in F-16 and F-35 projects with the US and Israel.
Turkish authorities decided during a Defense Industry Executive Committee (SS?K) meeting last December to begin production on the first Turkish fighter jets in 2020 in order to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). TUSA? Engine Industries Inc. (TE?) and TA? will be the leading companies that will undertake production of these fighter jets, planning to design and produce plane engines by 2015.
Israel claimed that Turkey will fail to produce these jets as no country in the world would dare to build its own planes without participating in a consortium due to the high costs.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Adana deputy Kür?at At?lgan told Today's Zaman that no country could produce a fighter jet by itself and for lucrative production, there needs to be at least 400 jets produced. Considering this fact, Turkey had been secretly trying to build a consortium with neighboring and friendly countries. In last month's SS?K meeting, Gönül also talked about the possibility of joint production of fighter jets with South Korean companies. This issue was raised during Erdo?an's recent visit to Gulf countries. Turkey thinks it will be easier to produce its own fighter jets with five countries involved in the region.
http://idrw.org/?p=2461
youngindian
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Guess nobody told them about Rafale? If Turkey dumps F-35, they are going to be up a creek without a paddle when Rafale start flying in Greece.
Someoneforyou
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First Vertical Landing For BF-2
UNITED STATES - 11 JANUARY 2011
Photo Release: First Vertical Landing For BF-2PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Fred Schenk pilots F-35B test aircraft BF-2 for its first vertical landing in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode on January 6, 2011. The F-35B is undergoing testing and evaluation during the program's system design and development phase at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
Source: Naval Air Systems Command
UNITED STATES - 11 JANUARY 2011
Photo Release: First Vertical Landing For BF-2PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Fred Schenk pilots F-35B test aircraft BF-2 for its first vertical landing in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode on January 6, 2011. The F-35B is undergoing testing and evaluation during the program's system design and development phase at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
Source: Naval Air Systems Command
Someoneforyou
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Marine Corps Commandant Visits F-35 Test Facility
UNITED STATES - 13 JANUARY 2011
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford and Lt. Col. Fred Schenk and Lt. Col. Matt Kelly of the F-35 Integrated Test Force inspecting a F-35B test aircraft on December 17, 2010. Earlier that week with reporters, Gen. Amos said, "The programmatic health of the STOVL variant of the F-35 is a matter of great national interest. Right now, we have 11 aircraft carriers and 11 "big deck" amphibious ships - so our nation effectively has 22 carrier-type capital ships to do our nation's bidding. We need to put fifth generation aircraft on all 22 of those ships if we are to maintain operational flexibility for the National Command Authority and the Combatant Commander."
Source: Naval Air Systems Command
UNITED STATES - 13 JANUARY 2011
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford and Lt. Col. Fred Schenk and Lt. Col. Matt Kelly of the F-35 Integrated Test Force inspecting a F-35B test aircraft on December 17, 2010. Earlier that week with reporters, Gen. Amos said, "The programmatic health of the STOVL variant of the F-35 is a matter of great national interest. Right now, we have 11 aircraft carriers and 11 "big deck" amphibious ships - so our nation effectively has 22 carrier-type capital ships to do our nation's bidding. We need to put fifth generation aircraft on all 22 of those ships if we are to maintain operational flexibility for the National Command Authority and the Combatant Commander."
Source: Naval Air Systems Command
vikramrana_1812
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Gates Fires Head of F-35 Fighter Jet Program
By Justin Fishel
Published February 01, 2010
| FOXNews.com
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/01/gates-fires-head-f-fighter-jet-program#ixzz1C9OXPzW6
A senior manager in charge of procuring the next generation of military fighter jets known as F-35 Joint [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Strike [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Fighter[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] has been fired and the Department of Defense has been instructed to withhold money that would pay bonuses to the lead contractor, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Monday.
In a briefing at the Pentagon on the 2011 defense budget, Gates said inefficiencies and budget overruns within the costly [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]fighter [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]program[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] forced him to take action.
Gates said Lockheed Martin, the defense contractor responsible for producing the F-35, is in agreement with his plan to withhold bonuses, calling it a burden "the taxpayer should not have to bear."
In 2009 a Defense Department review concluded the [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Joint [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Strike [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Fighter[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] program had significant cost overruns and its production dates were far over schedule.
Gates did not announce a replacement to head up the Joint Strike Fighter program, but he said the new position will be elevated to that of a three-star officer.
Gates has a reputation for firing his senior staff, and he was quick to point that out.
"One cannot absorb the additional costs that -- that we have in this program and the -- and the delays, without people being held accountable. And I think if -- if I've set one tone here at the Department of Defense, it is that, when things go wrong, people will be held accountable."
In 2008 Gates fired [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Air [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Force [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Secretary[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] Michael Wynn and forced out the Air Force Chief of Staff, Michael T. Moseley in wake of the "loose nukes" scandal earlier that year.
In 2009 he removed Gen. David McKiernan from his position as the commanding general in Afghanistan after it became clear that the Taliban had reversed the momentum of the war. Brig. Gen. David Heinz, now the former Program executive officer for the F-35, has become the secretary's latest casualty.
The new project manager for the Joint Strike Fighter will be announced in a matter of days, and he'll have heavy burden to bear. The Joint Strike Fighter is currently the Pentagon's most expensive weapons project ever, with defense officials putting the price tag for all the jets requested at nearly $300 billion.
The F-35 fighter is called the "Joint" Strike Fighter because it's designed for use across the Navy, Marine Corp, and [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]the [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Air [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Force[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]. The Pentagon also has plans to sell it to allies overseas once production needs within the U.S. military have been met.
The first F-35s are expected to be operation in 2012 if all goes according to plan. The Marines will be the first to get them and the defense community will be watching closely. From the day an F35 rolls off the assembly to the day it's retired, it's total production cost is valued at $69 million.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/01/gates-fires-head-f-fighter-jet-program#ixzz1C9OdJef3
[/COLOR]
By Justin Fishel
Published February 01, 2010
| FOXNews.com
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/01/gates-fires-head-f-fighter-jet-program#ixzz1C9OXPzW6
A senior manager in charge of procuring the next generation of military fighter jets known as F-35 Joint [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Strike [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Fighter[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] has been fired and the Department of Defense has been instructed to withhold money that would pay bonuses to the lead contractor, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Monday.
In a briefing at the Pentagon on the 2011 defense budget, Gates said inefficiencies and budget overruns within the costly [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]fighter [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]program[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] forced him to take action.
Gates said Lockheed Martin, the defense contractor responsible for producing the F-35, is in agreement with his plan to withhold bonuses, calling it a burden "the taxpayer should not have to bear."
In 2009 a Defense Department review concluded the [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Joint [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Strike [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Fighter[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] program had significant cost overruns and its production dates were far over schedule.
Gates did not announce a replacement to head up the Joint Strike Fighter program, but he said the new position will be elevated to that of a three-star officer.
Gates has a reputation for firing his senior staff, and he was quick to point that out.
"One cannot absorb the additional costs that -- that we have in this program and the -- and the delays, without people being held accountable. And I think if -- if I've set one tone here at the Department of Defense, it is that, when things go wrong, people will be held accountable."
In 2008 Gates fired [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Air [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Force [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Secretary[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] Michael Wynn and forced out the Air Force Chief of Staff, Michael T. Moseley in wake of the "loose nukes" scandal earlier that year.
In 2009 he removed Gen. David McKiernan from his position as the commanding general in Afghanistan after it became clear that the Taliban had reversed the momentum of the war. Brig. Gen. David Heinz, now the former Program executive officer for the F-35, has become the secretary's latest casualty.
The new project manager for the Joint Strike Fighter will be announced in a matter of days, and he'll have heavy burden to bear. The Joint Strike Fighter is currently the Pentagon's most expensive weapons project ever, with defense officials putting the price tag for all the jets requested at nearly $300 billion.
The F-35 fighter is called the "Joint" Strike Fighter because it's designed for use across the Navy, Marine Corp, and [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]the [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Air [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Force[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]. The Pentagon also has plans to sell it to allies overseas once production needs within the U.S. military have been met.
The first F-35s are expected to be operation in 2012 if all goes according to plan. The Marines will be the first to get them and the defense community will be watching closely. From the day an F35 rolls off the assembly to the day it's retired, it's total production cost is valued at $69 million.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/01/gates-fires-head-f-fighter-jet-program#ixzz1C9OdJef3
[/COLOR]
vikramrana_1812
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Australia welcomes JSF restructure
The Acting Minister for Defence Jason Clare today welcomed the restructure of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The restructure follows a detailed six month Technical Baseline Review of the JSF Program's progress by the US Department of Defense to examine the remaining development tasks and the resources and time required to complete them.
The restructure will see an extension of the System Design and Development phase and a reduction in the production rate in the earlier batches of aircraft. The US will fund costs associated with extended design and test activity.
The JSF Program involves the development of three different types of aircraft:
1) the F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) variant;
2) the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant; and
3) the F-35C Carrier Variant (CV).
Australia is purchasing the CTOL variant. The US Air Force is also purchasing this variant.
Secretary Gates confirmed today that this variant was on schedule and proceeding satisfactorily.
In 2010 it exceeded its test flight targets.
Secretary Gates advised that the STOVL variant being developed for the US Marines is experiencing significant testing problems and has now been placed at the back of the overall JSF production sequence.
Mr Clare welcomed the news that the development of the aircraft Australia is purchasing is on schedule and proceeding satisfactorily.
"It is less expensive and less complex than the other variants. The restructure announced by Secretary Gates means it is now at the front of the production queue", Mr Clare said.
Defence has advised that the restructure of the US JSF Program will reduce overall program risk to Australia and should not affect Australia's planned introduction date for the JSF.
The Australian Government approved the acquisition of the first 14 aircraft in November 2009. The first two aircraft will be delivered in 2014. The first 10 aircraft will initially remain in the United States for pilot and maintainer training. The remaining four aircraft are planned to arrive in Australia in 2017 for operational test and evaluation activities with other ADF equipment to achieve an initial operational capability in Australia from 2018.
Defence has also advised it is confident Australia has adequate buffers in place to withstand any changes to the cost and schedule.
"Australia has always adopted a conservative approach to JSF cost estimates and has explicitly included contingency funds and buffers to the schedule,"
Mr Clare said.
"While there is no need to change our cost and schedule estimates, Defence will continue to assess options to ensure that cost and schedule buffers remain adequate."
A recent agreement between Lockheed Martin and the US Department of Defense to move to fixed price contract agreements – at a lower price than independent estimates – has enhanced confidence in the costs for future JSF production.
In December last year Mr Clare met with senior US Defense officials in Washington and inspected the Lockheed Martin JSF production line in Fort Worth Texas.
The Acting Minister for Defence Jason Clare today welcomed the restructure of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The restructure follows a detailed six month Technical Baseline Review of the JSF Program's progress by the US Department of Defense to examine the remaining development tasks and the resources and time required to complete them.
The restructure will see an extension of the System Design and Development phase and a reduction in the production rate in the earlier batches of aircraft. The US will fund costs associated with extended design and test activity.
The JSF Program involves the development of three different types of aircraft:
1) the F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) variant;
2) the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant; and
3) the F-35C Carrier Variant (CV).
Australia is purchasing the CTOL variant. The US Air Force is also purchasing this variant.
Secretary Gates confirmed today that this variant was on schedule and proceeding satisfactorily.
In 2010 it exceeded its test flight targets.
Secretary Gates advised that the STOVL variant being developed for the US Marines is experiencing significant testing problems and has now been placed at the back of the overall JSF production sequence.
Mr Clare welcomed the news that the development of the aircraft Australia is purchasing is on schedule and proceeding satisfactorily.
"It is less expensive and less complex than the other variants. The restructure announced by Secretary Gates means it is now at the front of the production queue", Mr Clare said.
Defence has advised that the restructure of the US JSF Program will reduce overall program risk to Australia and should not affect Australia's planned introduction date for the JSF.
The Australian Government approved the acquisition of the first 14 aircraft in November 2009. The first two aircraft will be delivered in 2014. The first 10 aircraft will initially remain in the United States for pilot and maintainer training. The remaining four aircraft are planned to arrive in Australia in 2017 for operational test and evaluation activities with other ADF equipment to achieve an initial operational capability in Australia from 2018.
Defence has also advised it is confident Australia has adequate buffers in place to withstand any changes to the cost and schedule.
"Australia has always adopted a conservative approach to JSF cost estimates and has explicitly included contingency funds and buffers to the schedule,"
Mr Clare said.
"While there is no need to change our cost and schedule estimates, Defence will continue to assess options to ensure that cost and schedule buffers remain adequate."
A recent agreement between Lockheed Martin and the US Department of Defense to move to fixed price contract agreements – at a lower price than independent estimates – has enhanced confidence in the costs for future JSF production.
In December last year Mr Clare met with senior US Defense officials in Washington and inspected the Lockheed Martin JSF production line in Fort Worth Texas.
Someoneforyou
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Last F-35B STOVL Test Jet Takes Flight
UNITED STATES - 28 JANUARY 2011
FORT WORTH, Texas, January 28th, 2011 -- The last Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B Lightning II assigned to developmental flight testing departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on its first flight Thursday. Known as BF-5, the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet will ferry to NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this year, where it will join four F-35Bs and one F-35C carrier variant aircraft currently undergoing testing.
Source: Lockheed Martin
UNITED STATES - 28 JANUARY 2011
FORT WORTH, Texas, January 28th, 2011 -- The last Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B Lightning II assigned to developmental flight testing departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on its first flight Thursday. Known as BF-5, the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet will ferry to NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this year, where it will join four F-35Bs and one F-35C carrier variant aircraft currently undergoing testing.
Source: Lockheed Martin
black eagle
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Someoneforyou
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U.S. Navy Test Pilot Completes First F-35 Flight
UNITED STATES - 3 FEBRUARY 2011
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - After a series of extensive ground and simulator training events, Lt. Cmdr. Eric "Magic" Buus completed the first flight by a U.S. Navy test pilot Feb. 3, 2011.
"The flight was very enjoyable and went off without a hitch," Buus said. "I'm very blessed to be on this program, and it's a testament to the designers and engineers that this airplane flies so well. I'm looking forward to getting a few more hours, helping the team knock out test points, and delivering this airplane to the warfighters. I think the fleet is going to love this airplane."
"This is a great milestone for the Navy and naval aviation," said Vice Adm. David Architzel, Commander of Naval Air Systems Command. "Having Navy test pilots flying the future of the fleet is a testament to the unique skill set provided by our test pilot school here at Pax River."
"Technology has come a long way, and our test pilots today are doing a great job getting the technology and capability out to the front lines," said Architzel.
The F-35 flight control and pilot interface is designed to reduce workload through automation and integration, allowing the pilot to focus on warfighting.
For new Navy and Marine Corps test pilots at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, advanced flight simulators provide test pilots the ability to complete their first F-35 flights solo, a first for naval aviation, and will be the model for F-35 pilot training for the fleet.
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program is in the system design and development phase, focusing on delivering three different, new aircraft variants to the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. The Marine Corps and Navy variants represent the first fighter aircraft with stealth capabilities.
Source: Naval Air Systems Command
UNITED STATES - 3 FEBRUARY 2011
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - After a series of extensive ground and simulator training events, Lt. Cmdr. Eric "Magic" Buus completed the first flight by a U.S. Navy test pilot Feb. 3, 2011.
"The flight was very enjoyable and went off without a hitch," Buus said. "I'm very blessed to be on this program, and it's a testament to the designers and engineers that this airplane flies so well. I'm looking forward to getting a few more hours, helping the team knock out test points, and delivering this airplane to the warfighters. I think the fleet is going to love this airplane."
"This is a great milestone for the Navy and naval aviation," said Vice Adm. David Architzel, Commander of Naval Air Systems Command. "Having Navy test pilots flying the future of the fleet is a testament to the unique skill set provided by our test pilot school here at Pax River."
"Technology has come a long way, and our test pilots today are doing a great job getting the technology and capability out to the front lines," said Architzel.
The F-35 flight control and pilot interface is designed to reduce workload through automation and integration, allowing the pilot to focus on warfighting.
For new Navy and Marine Corps test pilots at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, advanced flight simulators provide test pilots the ability to complete their first F-35 flights solo, a first for naval aviation, and will be the model for F-35 pilot training for the fleet.
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program is in the system design and development phase, focusing on delivering three different, new aircraft variants to the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. The Marine Corps and Navy variants represent the first fighter aircraft with stealth capabilities.
Source: Naval Air Systems Command
Someoneforyou
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Pratt & Whitney's Short Take Off Vertical Landing Variant F135 Engine Receives Initial Service Release
UNITED STATES - 3 JANUARY 2011
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 3, 2011 – Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, has achieved initial service release (ISR) for the short take off and vertical landing variant (STOVL) F135 engine, marking another major milestone. The propulsion system is now certified as the production configuration and cleared for flight in the Lockheed Martin F-35B stealth fighter. Pratt & Whitney received ISR for the conventional take off and landing/carrier variant (CTOL/CV) F135 engine in February 2010.
"Achieving initial service release for the STOVL propulsion system means all three variants of the F135 engine have met all necessary requirements and proven the safety, reliability and performance of this product. We are one step closer to powering operational flights," said Bennett Croswell, vice president of F135/F119 Engine Programs, Pratt & Whitney. "I am proud of the F135 STOVL team and our partners at Rolls-Royce, Hamilton Sundstrand and Lockheed Martin for this great program accomplishment. We look forward to seeing the F135-powered Lightning II in operational flight."
The F135 is in production and is the only engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program today. The F135 CTOL/CV engine and STOVL propulsion system continues to power the F-35 Lightning II with 540 flight tests and more than 750 flight test hours. The F135 has powered all 12 vertical landings and the F135 engine is demonstrating excellent reliability, performance and thrust response. To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 12 production F135 engines, including the first two production STOVL propulsion systems.
Pratt & Whitney has designed, developed and tested the F135 to deliver the most advanced fifth generation fighter engine for the United States and its allies around the world. The F135 has been further enhanced with technologies developed in several U.S. Air Force and Navy technology programs.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.
Source: Pratt & Whitney
UNITED STATES - 3 JANUARY 2011
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 3, 2011 – Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, has achieved initial service release (ISR) for the short take off and vertical landing variant (STOVL) F135 engine, marking another major milestone. The propulsion system is now certified as the production configuration and cleared for flight in the Lockheed Martin F-35B stealth fighter. Pratt & Whitney received ISR for the conventional take off and landing/carrier variant (CTOL/CV) F135 engine in February 2010.
"Achieving initial service release for the STOVL propulsion system means all three variants of the F135 engine have met all necessary requirements and proven the safety, reliability and performance of this product. We are one step closer to powering operational flights," said Bennett Croswell, vice president of F135/F119 Engine Programs, Pratt & Whitney. "I am proud of the F135 STOVL team and our partners at Rolls-Royce, Hamilton Sundstrand and Lockheed Martin for this great program accomplishment. We look forward to seeing the F135-powered Lightning II in operational flight."
The F135 is in production and is the only engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program today. The F135 CTOL/CV engine and STOVL propulsion system continues to power the F-35 Lightning II with 540 flight tests and more than 750 flight test hours. The F135 has powered all 12 vertical landings and the F135 engine is demonstrating excellent reliability, performance and thrust response. To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 12 production F135 engines, including the first two production STOVL propulsion systems.
Pratt & Whitney has designed, developed and tested the F135 to deliver the most advanced fifth generation fighter engine for the United States and its allies around the world. The F135 has been further enhanced with technologies developed in several U.S. Air Force and Navy technology programs.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.
Source: Pratt & Whitney
