(NSI News Source Info) LONDON - March 18, 2009: Britain is to purchase three Joint Strike Fighters to carry out operational test-and-evaluation work ahead of a decision to acquire the F-35B STOVL variant to equip two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers. 
The JSF program was designed to replace the F-16, A-10, F/A-18 and AV-8B fleet of tactical fighter aircraft in U.S. military service. A common design would keep development, production, and operating costs down. This was pursued by building three variants of one aircraft, sharing 80% of their parts:
*F-35A, conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant.
*F-35B, short-takeoff and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant.
*F-35C, carrier-based (CV) variant.
The F-35 is being designed to be the world's premier strike aircraft through 2040. It is intended that its close and long-range air-to-air capability will be second only to that of the F-22 Raptor. Specifically the F-35’s requirements are that it be: four times more effective than legacy fighters in air-to-air combat, eight times more effective in air-to-ground battle combat, and three times more effective in reconnaissance and suppression of air defenses. These capabilities are to be achieved while still having significantly better range and require less logistics support than legacy aircraft.
With takeoff weights up to 60,000 lb (27,000 kg), the F-35 is considerably heavier than the original lightweight fighter designs it replaces. In empty and maximum gross weights, it more closely resembles the single-seat, single-engine F-105 Thunderchief which was the largest single engine fighter of the Vietnam era.
The announcement of the purchase came March 18 as British Defence Secretary John Hutton visited Washington for three days of talks with members of the new Obama administration and others.
With the Ministry of Defence budget under severe pressure, the British government has been toying with the idea of not acquiring low-rate initial-production aircraft for its test program to save cash.
Italy decided not to join the test-and-evaluation element of the JSF program late last year for budget reasons.
The purchase deal is expected to cost the MoD in excess of 400 million pounds ($562.4 million).
A ministry spokesman said the military is expected to take possession of the aircraft in 2011 or 2012. The British will initially join the test program being conducted by their U.S. counterparts.
The aircraft will eventually fly off the two 65,000-ton Queen Elizabeth-class carriers due to be handed over starting in 2015. The carriers, though, are likely to enter service carrying Harrier GR9s operated jointly by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
The JSF program was designed to replace the F-16, A-10, F/A-18 and AV-8B fleet of tactical fighter aircraft in U.S. military service. A common design would keep development, production, and operating costs down. This was pursued by building three variants of one aircraft, sharing 80% of their parts:
*F-35A, conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant.
*F-35B, short-takeoff and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant.
*F-35C, carrier-based (CV) variant.
The F-35 is being designed to be the world's premier strike aircraft through 2040. It is intended that its close and long-range air-to-air capability will be second only to that of the F-22 Raptor. Specifically the F-35’s requirements are that it be: four times more effective than legacy fighters in air-to-air combat, eight times more effective in air-to-ground battle combat, and three times more effective in reconnaissance and suppression of air defenses. These capabilities are to be achieved while still having significantly better range and require less logistics support than legacy aircraft.
With takeoff weights up to 60,000 lb (27,000 kg), the F-35 is considerably heavier than the original lightweight fighter designs it replaces. In empty and maximum gross weights, it more closely resembles the single-seat, single-engine F-105 Thunderchief which was the largest single engine fighter of the Vietnam era.
The announcement of the purchase came March 18 as British Defence Secretary John Hutton visited Washington for three days of talks with members of the new Obama administration and others.
With the Ministry of Defence budget under severe pressure, the British government has been toying with the idea of not acquiring low-rate initial-production aircraft for its test program to save cash.
Italy decided not to join the test-and-evaluation element of the JSF program late last year for budget reasons.
The purchase deal is expected to cost the MoD in excess of 400 million pounds ($562.4 million).
A ministry spokesman said the military is expected to take possession of the aircraft in 2011 or 2012. The British will initially join the test program being conducted by their U.S. counterparts.
The aircraft will eventually fly off the two 65,000-ton Queen Elizabeth-class carriers due to be handed over starting in 2015. The carriers, though, are likely to enter service carrying Harrier GR9s operated jointly by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
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