DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: F-35 Jump Jet Gears Up For Crucial At-Sea Tests

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: F-35 Jump Jet Gears Up For Crucial At-Sea Tests

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By Lance M. Bacon, Staff writer - NavyTimes
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 23, 2015: The blue-green team is gearing up for operational tests that could build momentum for the embattled F-35B Lightning II — or add more fuel to the fire of outspoken critics.

The first shipboard operational test period for the Marine Corps' short take off and vertical landing version of the Joint Strike Fighter is scheduled to take place May 18-30 aboard the amphibious assault ship Wasp. Six of the jets will participate, four out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, and two from MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.

Evaluators will assess the stealth jet's integration and operation within the full spectrum of flight and maintenance operations, as well as supply chain support while embarked at sea, said Maj. Paul Greenberg, Marine Corps spokesman. Lessons learned will "lay the groundwork" for future deployments, he said. The aims of the at-sea tests include:

*Assess day and night take-offs and landings, weapons loads, and extended range operations.
*Assess aircraft-to-ship network communications.
*Evaluate the landing signal officer's launch and recovery software.
*Test the crew's ability to conduct scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.
*Determine the suitability of maintenance support equipment for shipboard operations.
*Assess the logistics footprint of a deployed, six-plane F-35B detachment.

The F-35B remains the centerpiece of Marine fixed-wing modernization because "it supports our doctrinal form of maneuver warfare and our operational need for close air support in austere conditions and locations potentially inaccessible for traditional fighters," Greenberg told Navy Times on March 17."The Lightning II will provide effective close-air support to our Marines and sailors when they need it the most."

Twenty-one alterations were required to equip the Wasp for regular operation of the F-35B aircraft, according to Matt Leonard, spokesman for Naval Sea Systems Command. Each alteration will be made on all L-class ships during planned availabilities and in line on newly constructed ships in advance of the F-35B's arrival.

Among the biggest challenges has been the downward force and heat of the F-35B's engines as it lands, which has burned the nonskid deck. A new highly tolerant, temperature resistant thermal spray coating was applied and has been successfully evaluated aboard Wasp during F-35B, V-22, AV-8B and other helicopter flight operations, Leonard said.

The Wasp also underwent seven "cornerstone" alterations that provide necessary electrical servicing upgrades, expand weapons handling and storage, provide for the F-35B Autonomic Logistics Information System, secure access facilities, and relocate the flight deck tramline for flight safety.

The Wasp is the test ship for the F-35B and has not made a major deployment in over a decade.

While the Air Force's decision to replace the venerable A-10 with its F-35A variant has nabbed headlines, some analysts and lawmakers remain critical of the Corps' next-generation jump jet for three reasons. It has the shortest range and smallest payload of any F-35, its capabilities are reduced and it's the most expensive. An Air Force F-35A airframe and engine runs $77.7 million, as compared to $105.5 million for the F-35B, and $89.7 million for the F-35C, according to an April 2014 Congressional Research Service report. The Marine Corps also plans to buy the carrier-based F-35C.

Supporters point out that few (if any) potential adversaries can beat the fifth-generation fighter, and this design amounts to a leap ahead for reconnaissance, electronic warfare and close-air support missions

"This actually doesn't just replace the F/A-18, the AV-8 or the EA-6. It's a fundamentally different capability," Marine Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford said in March 10 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. "It's a transformational capability. It'll do everything that those three aircraft will do, but also, in terms of the information environment, it'll do a significant amount more for the Marine air-ground task force."

Initial operating capability for the F-35B is scheduled for July.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By Lance M. Bacon, Staff writer - NavyTimes
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: New Super Hornet Solicitation Could Threaten Navy’s Joint Strike Fighter Buy

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: New Super Hornet Solicitation Could Threaten Navy’s Joint Strike Fighter Buy

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By: Dave Majumdar USNI News

(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 31, 2013: The U.S Navy has released a pre-solicitation notice for 36 additional Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters, which could potentially threaten the production ramp-up for the service’s Lockheed Martin F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) variant.

But Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) officials say that there is no current requirement for additional Super Hornets in fiscal year 2015. However, the service hopes to gain approval to negotiate a deal should the need arise for more jets.

“Currently, there is no fiscal 2015 or subsequent requirements for additional F/A-18E/Fs or EA-18Gs,” wrote NAVAIR spokeswoman Marcia Hart-Wise in an email to USNI News.

“Naval Air Systems Command released FY15 (Lot 39) F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G (Solicitation Number: N00019-13-R-0102) with the intent to secure justification and approval needed to negotiate a potential option for any prospective requirements that may emerge in fiscal 2015, USN or FMS [Foreign Military Sales].”

According to the Oct. 17 notice, NAVAIR intends to negotiate a fixed price deal with Boeing for the procurement of up to 36 F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft in fiscal year 2015. The procurement would also include all of the jets’ ancillary equipment and technical data.

In addition to the posting for the Super Hornet airframes, NAVAIR also released a similar notification for the jet’s General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofans on Oct. 28. According to that posting, NAVAIR intends to seek a fixed-price deal for up to 84 engines in fiscal year 2015 of which 12 would be spares.

Though Navy officials insist that they are committed to the F-35C, many in Washington suspect that the service is positioning itself to purchase additional F/A-18E/Fs while slowing down the F-35C procurement ramp up.

Such a strategy would allow the Navy to replace some of its increasingly decrepit early-model Boeing F/A-18A/B/C/D aircraft with newer Super Hornets. It would also allow the Navy to reduce the number of early production F-35Cs the service buys that would require various upgrades.

Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with the Teal Group, told USNI News that the Navy is likely paving the way for negotiation in case the U.S. Congress comes up with additional funding to keep the Super Hornet line open past 2016. The Navy was supposed to stop further Super Hornet procurement in the fiscal year 2014 budget.

“They’re not going to ask for them [new Super Hornets] because the budget environment is very difficult,” Aboulafia said. “Other than that, it’s very much in their interest to keep the line open.”

Mark Gunzinger, a noted air power analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, told USNI News that preserving a second fighter production line in the U.S. is a good thing. “I think it’s in our nation’s interest to maintain a healthy fighter aircraft industrial base,” he said.

But some of the additional aircraft may not be destined for the U.S. Navy, Aboulafia noted. The Super Hornet is a contender for Brazil’s continually delayed F-X2 program, which calls for the acquisition of 36 fighters. However, that is a very remote possibility because the F-X2 effort has been delayed until after Brazil’s next election, he noted. Further, Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff is extremely unhappy about the National Security Agency spy scandal.

When contacted by USNI News, Boeing referred all questions on the solicitation to the U.S. Navy.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By: Dave Majumdar USNI News
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US DoD Has Awarded Contracts To Lockheed Martin For F-35 JSF Aircrafts

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US DoD Has Awarded Contracts To Lockheed Martin For F-35 JSF Aircrafts

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources U.S. DoD #691-13 Dated September 27, 2013 + Baynet.com

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 28, 2013: The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin signed two F-35 contracts today, valued at $7.8 billion, for a total of 71 F-35 Lightning II aircraft to be produced in the sixth and seventh Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lots. These agreements are a significant milestone for the F-35 Program, and reflect cost reduction initiatives shared by government and industry.
The LRIP 6 contract, valued at $4.4 billion ($3.7 billion awarded through a December 2012 undefinitized contract action; ref: N00019-11-C-0083, and $0.7 billion awarded through today’s contract) funds production of 36 aircraft, with average aircraft unit cost approximately 2.5 percent lower than LRIP 5 aircraft. LRIP 6 per variant unit prices (not including engine cost) follow:

·   23 F-35As CTOL - $103 million/jet

·   6 F-35B STOVL - $109 million/jet

·   7 F-35C CV - $120 million/jet

The LRIP 7 contract, valued at $3.4 billion, funds the production of 35 aircraft, with average aircraft unit cost approximately 6 percent lower than LRIP 5 aircraft. F-35 LRIP 7 per variant unit prices (not including engine cost) follow: 

·   24 F-35As CTOL - $98 million/jet

·   7 F-35B STOVL - $104 million/jet

·   4 F-35C CV - $116 million/jet

The 71 aircraft are currently in various stages of production. Lockheed Martin will begin delivering LRIP 6 aircraft in the second quarter of 2014 and LRIP 7 jets in the second quarter of 2015. LRIP 6 will mark the first delivery of international F-35 jets for Italy and Australia, and LRIP 7 will mark the first delivery to Norway.

 The LRIP 6 and 7 contract terms reduce the government’s exposure to target cost overruns relative to previous LRIP contracts. In the LRIP 6 and 7 buy, Lockheed Martin will cover all cost overruns. The government and Lockheed Martin will share returns (20/80) derived from any under runs in target cost.

 The LRIP 6 and 7 contracts contain performance-based payments, whereby the contractor will receive incremental payment as measured goals are achieved along the production line until government aircraft acceptance. LRIP 6 and 7 contracts also include a concurrency clause which requires Lockheed Martin to share costs equally with the government (50/50) for known concurrency changes arising from System Development and Demonstration testing and qualification. Newly discovered concurrency changes identified during LRIP 6 and 7 production periods will be authorized via engineering change proposals.

F-35 engines are funded through separate contract actions with Pratt & Whitney.

Lorraine Martin, VP and GM of the F-35 Program, said about the contracts “Lockheed Martin is extremely pleased with the LRIP 6 and 7 contract signing, which represents a significant milestone for the F-35 Program and its path to enhanced affordability. With each successive production lot, unit costs have declined. That’s a trend we look forward to continuing as this program moves toward full rate production and operational maturity. Working together with the Joint Program Office, our entire industrial team is focused on delivering the F-35’s 5th generation capabilities to our Armed Forces and partner nations at a 4th generation price point.”

U.S. DoD #691-13 Dated September 27, 2013

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $3,405,427,661 modification with fixed-price-incentive-firm, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-plus-incentive-fee line items to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-12-C-0004) for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot VII F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft production. This modification provides for the manufacture and delivery of 19 F-35 Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) for the U.S. Air Force; six F-35 Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps; four F-35 Carrier Variant (CV) aircraft for the U.S. Navy; two F-35 CTOL aircraft for Norway; three F-35 CTOL aircraft for Italy; and one (1) F-35 STOVL for the United Kingdom. This modification also provides for LRIP Lot 7 production requirements, including manufacturing support equipment, diminishing manufacturing sources management, ancillary mission equipment, including Pilot Flight Equipment, and concurrency changes to LRIP Lot 7 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy, and for non-U.S. DoD Participants in the F-35 Program. Concurrency changes are changes to the LRIP Lot 7 configuration baseline resulting from the F-35 development effort. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (55 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (15 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (10 percent); Orlando, Fla. (5 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and Cameri, Italy (5 percent). Aircraft deliveries are expected to be completed in October 2016. Fiscal 2013 Aircraft Procurement, Air Force; Fiscal 2013 Aircraft Procurement Navy; and International Partner funding in the amount of $3,405,427,661 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force ($1,823,737,540; 53.55 percent), U.S. Marine Corps ($567,802,742; 16.67 percent), the U.S. Navy ($401,457,402; 11.79 percent); and the Governments of Italy, Norway, United Kingdom, Australia, Turkey, the Netherlands, Canada, and Denmark ($612,429,977; 34.46 percent) The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $742,657,068 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive (firm target) modification to the previously awarded F-35 Lightning II Low Rate Initial Production Lot VI advance acquisition contract (N00019-11-C-0083). This modification provides for the manufacture and delivery of two F-35 Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft for the Government of Australia and three F-35 CTOL aircraft for the Government of Italy. In addition, this modification provides for LRIP Lot VI production requirements, including manufacturing support equipment, diminishing manufacturing sources management, ancillary mission equipment including pilot flight equipment, and concurrency changes to LRIP Lot VI aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, and the non-U.S. DoD Participants in the F-35 Program. Concurrency changes are changes to the LRIP Lot VI configuration baseline resulting from the F-35 development effort. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (55 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (15 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (10 percent); Orlando, Fla. (5 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); Baltimore, Md. (5 percent); and Cameri, Italy (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2016. Fiscal 2012 and 2013 Aircraft Procurement, Air Force; Fiscal 2012 Aircraft Procurement, Navy; and International Partner funding in the amount of $742,657,068 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force ($130,677,491; 17.60 percent); the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps ($66,199,572; 8.92 percent); and the Governments of Italy, Australia, United Kingdom, Turkey, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway and Denmark ($545,780,005; 73.49 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth - DTN News from reliable sources U.S. DoD #691-13 Dated September 27, 2013 + Baynet.com
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Principle Agreement Reached On Two Lower Cost F-35 Contracts

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Principle Agreement Reached On Two Lower Cost F-35 Contracts

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 3, 2013: The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin reached an agreement in principle for the next two F-35 Lightning II aircraft production contracts (Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lots 6 and 7), which is expected to include 71 stealth fighter aircraft and continue a reduction in F-35 aircraft pricing. The contracting effort spanned six months from proposal to settlement.

A decrease in F-35 LRIP 6-7 unit costs, coupled with negotiating lower prices on a number of other smaller contracts, will allow the Department to purchase all the aircraft originally planned, including those that were in jeopardy of being cut due to sequestration budget impacts.

Cost details will be released once both contracts are finalized; however, in general, the unit prices for all three variants of the U.S. air vehicles in LRIP-6 are roughly four percent lower than the previous contract. LRIP-7 air vehicle unit prices will show an additional four percent reduction. The LRIP-7 price represents about an eight percent reduction from the LRIP-5 contract signed in December 2012.

"These two contracts represent a fair deal that is beneficial to the government and Lockheed Martin," said Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, F-35 Program Executive Officer. "Improving affordability is critical to the success of this program, and by working together we were able to negotiate a lower cost F-35. There is still work to be done, but these agreements are proof the cost arrow is moving in the right direction.  We will continue to work with industry to identify areas for savings in future production contracts."

The new contracts will also include the first F-35s for Australia, Italy, Norway, and the fourth F-35 for the United Kingdom. In addition to procuring the air vehicles, these contracts also fund manufacturing-support equipment and ancillary mission equipment.

Deliveries of 36 U.S. and partner nation aircraft in LRIP-6 will begin by mid-2014 and deliveries of 35 U.S. and partner nation aircraft in LRIP-7 will begin by mid-2015.

“At the start of these negotiations, the F-35 Joint Program Office and our F-35 team jointly committed to conduct LRIP-6 and -7 negotiations in an efficient manner that leveraged all we achieved from the LRIP-5 contract,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Vice President and General Manager. “Today’s agreement reflects our collective JPO/LM delivery on that commitment. We know how critical aircraft production is to meeting our services’ Initial Operational Capability dates, beginning with the Marine Corps in 2015, and we’re committed to making that happen.”

The LRIP-6 and -7 aircraft will join the 95 F-35s contracted under LRIPs 1-5. To date, 67 F-35s (including test aircraft) have been delivered from Lockheed Martin's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The U.S. and eight partner nations plan to acquire more than 3,100 F-35 fighters. Israel and Japan have also announced plans to purchase the jet under Foreign Military Sales agreements.

The agreement in principle reached between the Government and Lockheed Martin are for air vehicles and do not include the propulsion systems.  The LRIP-6 engine contract is currently being negotiated between the Government and Pratt & Whitney.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: 100th Jet In Final Production; First F-35 Bound For Luke AFB

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: 100th Jet In Final Production; First F-35 Bound For Luke AFB

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 3, 2013: The 100th Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II, the first aircraft destined for Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., has entered the last stage of final assembly. This conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft, known as AF-41, is scheduled to arrive at the base next year. During final assembly, the aircraft structure is completed, and electrical and hydraulic systems are added. Additionally, these systems are tested in preparation for fuel systems checks and engine runs. The final steps prior to acceptance by the Air Force include a series of checkout flights leading to the aircraft entering the service’s F-35 fleet. AF-41 is one of 126 F-35s in various stages of production worldwide.

In June, the Air Force announced its decision to increase the number of squadrons at Luke AFB to six with 144 aircraft, which will make it the largest F-35 base worldwide.  In addition to training U.S. pilots, Luke will also serve as an F-35A International Training site. Currently, Luke’s economic impact on the state of Arizona is $2.17 Billion. With 14 F-35 suppliers in the state of Arizona, the program has an additional economic impact of $98Million.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation's net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability. The F-35 has three main models; the F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing variant, the F-35B is a short take-off and vertical-landing variant, and the F-35C is a carrier-based variant.

The F-35 is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin. The F-35 took its first flight on 15 December 2006. The United States plans to buy 2,443 aircraft. The F-35 variants are intended to provide the bulk of its tactical airpower for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy over the coming decades.


JSF development is being principally funded by the United States with additional funding from partners. The partner nations are either NATO members or close U.S. allies. The United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, and Turkey are part of the development program; Japan has ordered the F-35, while Singapore may also equip their air force with the F-35

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
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DTN News: U.S. Navy Version Of Lockheed Martin F-35 Makes First Flight

DTN News: U.S. Navy Version Of Lockheed Martin F-35 Makes First Flight

Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin Dt. June 7th, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) FORT WORTH, Texas, - June 8, 2010: The most advanced aircraft in the history of the United States Navy made its inaugural flight yesterday, assuring a future of long-range, first-day-of-the-war stealth striking capability from the Navy's big-deck carriers. The first Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35C Lightning II carrier variant took off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 11:46 a.m. and logged a 57 min flight. “I am thrilled the F-35C has attained this milestone,” said Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline, Commander of Naval Air Forces. “This flight marks the beginning of a new chapter in Naval Aviation. The mission systems in this aircraft will provide the Carrier Strike Group Commander with an unprecedented ability to counter a broad spectrum of threats and win in operational scenarios that our legacy aircraft cannot address. “As a long-range, stealthy, carrier-based aircraft, the F-35C will provide Naval Aviators a fifth-generation fighter with the most advanced technology possible to perform our nation's missions. I look forward to the F-35C's continued progress, and observing developmental flight testing at Patuxent River later this summer,” Kilcline said. The F-35C is unique in its uncompromised carrier suitability, with a larger wing and control surfaces for safe, precise handling and low approach speeds to the carrier, excellent over-the-nose visibility, and additional structural strength for at-sea operations. The aircraft’s stealth materials are designed to withstand harsh carrier conditions with minimal maintenance. "For the first time ever, and from now on, wherever on the world’s oceans we position a 98,000-ton nuclear carrier, we can launch a long-range, lethal, stealth strike fighter with the ability to defeat the most sophisticated air defenses," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration. “Sunday’s flight marks the beginning of the true introduction of a next-generation weapon system capable of providing joint, coalition striking power on Day One, from both land and sea bases.” The mission was flown by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Jeff Knowles, a retired Naval Aviator and test pilot who flew F-14As and F-14Ds operationally, and who served as chief test pilot on the F-117 stealth fighter program. The F-35 program has about 900 suppliers in 43 states, and directly and indirectly employs more than 130,000 people. Thousands more are employed in the F-35 partner countries, which have invested more than $4 billion in the project. Those countries are the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway. The F-35 Lightning II 5th generation fighter combines advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and lower operational and support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with principal industrial partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion. John R. Kent,

+ 817-763-3980;

e-mail john.r.kent@lmco.com

Chris Geisel,

+817-763-2643;

e-mail christian.g.geisel@lmco.com

For additional information, visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

DTN News: U.S. Navy Brings Forward F-35 Operation Date

DTN News: U.S. Navy Brings Forward F-35 Operation Date

*Source: DTN News / Defense News (Click here for link) (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, USA - September 19, 2009: The U.S. Navy said it planned to deploy the carrier-based version of Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) F-35 fighter six months earlier than previously planned.

US Navy carrier operations account for most of the differences between the F-35C and the other JSF variants. The aircraft has larger wing and tail control surfaces to better manage low-speed carrier approaches. The F-35C has an increased-capacity structure for absorbing catapult launches and arrested landings. The F-35C carrier-based (CV) variant will complement the US Navy's F/A-18E/Fs and replace F-14s and earlier model F/A-18s.

The decision to bring initial operation forward to the July-September period of 2014 could affect a campaign by Boeing Co (BA.N) to promote further purchases of its F/A-18 aircraft.

"The Navy has moved the initial operating capability date of the F-35C from fiscal year 2015 to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014," Navy spokeswoman Lt. Callie Ferrari told Reuters on Thursday.

The U.S. government fiscal year ends Sept. 30."The initial operating capability will be the first time a squadron of F-35Cs will be deployable," Ferrari said.Lockheed is building three variants of the F-35, including a conventional takeoff and landing version for the Air Force, a short-takeoff version for the Marine Corps and the C model to be used on Navy aircraft carriers.

Boeing has offered the U.S. Navy a discount price if the service commits to buying 150 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets over the next four to five years.

The Navy is wearing out its existing F/A-18s faster than expected, prompting some experts to predict it could face a fighter shortfall before the F-35 arrives in large numbers.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Unveils First Stealth Fighter For U.S. Navy

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Unveils First Stealth Fighter For U.S. Navy *Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin

(NSI News Source Info) Ft. Worth, TX, - July 29, 2009: A ceremony yesterday July 28, at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant marked the rollout of the U.S. Navy’s first-ever stealth fighter, the F-35C Lightning II. The aircraft will enable the Navy to possess 5th generation fighter capabilities at sea, extending America’s reach and reducing the timeline from threat to response. Top Navy leadership, signal flags and a crowd of employees, including reserve and retired Navy personnel, were on hand to celebrate the strike fighter’s unveiling. Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S. Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations, welcomed the new aircraft to the fleet. Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S. Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations, addresses the crowd at the rollout ceremony of the first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant The F-35C is on schedule to meet the Navy’s Initial Operational Capability in 2015, and represents a leap in technology and capability over existing fighters, combining stealth with supersonic speed and high agility. “The JSF will show the world that our Sailors will never be in a fair fight because this airplane will top anything that comes its way,” Roughead said of the F-35. “It will give our Sailors and pilots the tactical and technical advantage in the skies, and it will relieve our aircraft as they age out.” Tom Burbage, a former Navy test pilot and the vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration for Lockheed Martin, thanked Navy leadership for being fully engaged in the F-35’s development and “actively working to define joint and coalition tactics that will exploit this platform in ways we’ve never envisioned. We at Lockheed Martin are both proud and humbled by the trust the U.S. Navy has placed with us to lead the development and introduction of the Navy’s newest stealthy, supersonic strike fighter.” The first F-35C, known as CF-1, will undergo a wide-ranging series of ground tests before its first flight, scheduled for late 2009. CF-1 is the ninth F-35 test aircraft to be rolled out, and joins a fleet of F-35A (conventional takeoff and landing) and F-35B (short takeoff/vertical landing) variants that have logged more than 100 flights. The F-35C is on schedule to meet the Navy’s Initial Operational Capability in 2015, and represents a leap in technology and capability over existing fighters, combining stealth with supersonic speed and high agility. The Lightning II employs the most powerful and comprehensive sensor package ever incorporated into a fighter. The F-35C possesses uncompromised carrier suitability and low-maintenance stealth materials designed for long-term durability in the carrier environment. The Lightning II’s operational and support costs are forecast to be lower than those of the fighters it will replace. The F-35 and F-22 are the world’s only 5th generation fighters, uniquely characterized by a combination of advanced stealth with supersonic speed and high agility, sensor fusion, network-enabled capabilities and advanced sustainment. The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation strike fighter. Three F-35 variants derived from a common design, developed together and using the same sustainment infrastructure worldwide, will replace at least 13 types of aircraft for 11 nations initially, making the Lightning II the most cost-effective fighter program in history. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

DTN News: What Will Support The F-35C?

DTN News: What Will Support The F-35C?

*Source: DTN News / F-16.Net By Eric L. Palmer

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 25, 2009: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter known as the F-35C will be rolled out next week. It is billed to offer the U.S. Navy a “day one” of the war combat aircraft.

The F-35C carrier variant will have a larger, folding wing and larger control surfaces for improved low-speed control, and stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier landings. The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed, increased range and payload, with twice the range on internal fuel compared with the F/A-18C Hornet, achieving much the same goal as the heavier F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The United States Navy will be the sole user for the carrier variant. It intends to buy 480 F-35Cs to replace the F/A-18A, B, C, and D Hornets. The F-35C will also serve as a stealthier complement to the Super Hornet. On 27 June 2007, the carrier variant completed its Air System Critical Design Review (CDR). This allows the first two functional prototype F-35C units to be produced. The C variant is expected to be available beginning in 2015.*

With shaky and uncertain defense budgets being a given for the future, this could cause a bit of a dilemma on how to best support an F-35C strike package with off-board platforms.

First, the escort jammer that will fly off of the carrier deck is too slow and was delivered with yesterdays jammer system. Relevant if you are going up against a second or third string air defense on par with Allied Force 1999. Not so good if you are looking at the emerging threats in the Pacific Rim over the next 20 years.

Really, the F-35C will be long over the hill and far far down range before the EA-18G can be of any use. The EA-18G won’t have the range or useful jamming gear. And, if the EA-18G does some how get the next gen jammer, it will still be an escort jammer that will be too slow and too short on legs.

What to do? It may be time to call on a variety of 737 variants based on the P-8 and even possibly the Wedgetail. Wedgetail because it proves the aircraft can fly with a really odd looking shape. Where the shape wouldn’t be to support airborne early warning but instead would be a quality stand-off jammer that could blanket or focus along a very wide band of enemy radar threats at significant range.

This isn’t too far fetched given the future threats and the USAFs inability to come up with useful joint support. It may get bad enough where the U.S. Navy has to come up with their own wide-body large air-to-air refueling aircraft for dedicated carrier operations. An F-35C is going to need lots of refueling support. The aircraft can start a sortie carrying almost 10 tons of gas.

It is yet to be seen how the F-35C will prove itself. A U.S. Navy OPEVAL is a long way off. Starting now on what kind of tanking the U.S. Navy can depend on and what kind of real stand-off jamming they can come up with is a good idea.

With unstable defense budgets looming, depending on other services for joint support of carrier operations may be a pretty weak plan. Just as important, the UCAS-N operating off of a carrier is far from a done deal.

We are seeing huge old reliable paradigms at risk. With future defense budgets having lots of questions marks around them, expect to see a whole bunch of new unknowns appear when figuring out how to best use the F-35C against high end threats.

Russia Shows Concern Over Chinese Weapons Piracy

Russia Shows Concern Over Chinese Weapons Piracy *Russian-Chinese Su-33 Fighter Deal Collapses / Russia Refused To Sell Su-33 To China, Fears Being Duplicated And Exported: Report....Defense-Technology News March 11, 2009 (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - March 17, 2009: Several years ago, the media reported plans to sell between 30 and 50 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D carrier-borne fighters to China, which in turn planned to deploy them aboard its advanced aircraft carriers. Subsequent media reports mentioned only 14 Su-33s and the mandatory purchase of two fighters for "familiarization" purposes. But several wire services recently said the Su-33 deal did not go through. China has already copied the hard-hitting Su-27 Flanker fighter and its engine parts, re-designating the plane as the Shenyang J-11 (JianJi-11), an advanced fourth-generation fighter now serving with the Chinese Air Force. Russia was not very happy about such developments and probably got the impression that Beijing could copy the Su-33 after comparing its specifications with those of the T-10 prototype version. After it had been receiving stockpiles of Soviet weapons and production equipment from the 1940s and until the 1960s, Beijing continued to manufacture their own technologically Soviet weaponry and equipment even after its relations with Moscow had gone sour in the 1960s. China produced and upgraded all types of weapons, namely, firearms, mortars, artillery systems, armored fighting vehicles (including tanks), air defense systems and aircraft (including the famous Tupolev Tu-16 Badger intermediate-range bombers, which were re-designated as the Xian H-6s). Beijing actively exported copies of Soviet weapons to the Third World, Albania, the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia and to other countries that were unable to buy Soviet or Western weaponry for political reasons. These types of weapons are still in use today. From 1979 to 1989, China supplied 90% of mortars to Mujahedin insurgents battling Soviet forces in Afghanistan. However, Beijing continued to copy Soviet weaponry even after relations with Moscow had normalized in the late 1980s. China displayed copies of modern cruise missiles, aircraft engines, the aforesaid Su-27 fighter and many other military-equipment models. The signing of contracts for the delivery of large weapon batches that would meet Chinese demand in specific areas could serve as a guarantee against unauthorized copying. However, Beijing is no longer interested in such purchases. What's more, this option does not rule out the copying of previously supplied weapon systems and their subsequent exports to third countries. Such exports can only be prevented by signing a legally binding Russian-Chinese intellectual property protection agreement. But the experience of the last few years shows that very few countries pirating Russian weapons are inclined to respect Moscow's copyright.

Russian-Chinese Su-33 Fighter Deal Collapses / Russia Refused To Sell Su-33 To China, Fears Being Duplicated And Exported: Report

Russian-Chinese Su-33 Fighter Deal Collapses / Russia Refused To Sell Su-33 To China, Fears Being Duplicated And Exported: Report

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - March 11, 2009: Russia has refused to sell its Su-33 carrier-based fighters to China over fears that Beijing could produce cheaper export versions of the aircraft, a Russian daily said on Tuesday. The Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper said that China and Russia had been in negotiations on the sale of 50 of the Su-33 Flanker-D fighters, to be used on future Chinese aircraft carriers, since 2006, but that the talks collapsed recently over China's request for an initial delivery of two aircraft for a "trial." Russian Defense Ministry sources confirmed that the refusal was due to findings that China had produced its own copycat version of the Su-27SK fighter jet in violation of intellectual property agreements. In 1995, China secured a $2.5-billion production license from Russia to build 200 Su-27SKs, dubbed J-11A, at the Shenyang Aircraft Corp. The deal required the aircraft to be outfitted with Russian avionics, radars and engines. Russia cancelled the arrangement in 2006 after it discovered that China was developing an indigenous version, J-11B, with Chinese avionics and systems. The decision came after China had already produced 95 aircraft. This time, Russia refused the Chinese offer even after Beijing had offered to buy 14 Su-33 aircraft, saying that at least 24 jets should be sold to recoup production costs. However, the Moskovsky Komsomolets said that the Su-33 deal may be reviewed later because China desperately needs carrier-based aircraft to equip its first indigenous 48,000-ton aircraft carrier, due to be built by 2011. Beijing has also announced plans to build a nuclear-powered aircraft-carrier by 2020. Chinese media recently quoted China fleet commander Adm. Xu Hongmeng as saying: "China will very soon have its own aircraft carrier."

The state-run company Rosoboronexport is finishing negotiations with the People’s Republic of China to ship up to 50 aircraft totalling US$2.5 billion. China would initially acquire 2 aircraft worth US$100 million for testing and then have further options to acquire an additional 12-48 aircraft. The fighters are intended to be used with the fledgling Chinese aircraft carrier program. At the sixth Zhuhai Airshow in fall 2006, the first deputy director of the Military Technological Cooperation Bureau of Russian Federation, lieutenant general Aleksander Denisov of the Russian Air Force, publicly confirmed at the news conference that China had approached Russia for the possible purchase of Su-33, and negotiation was to start in 2007. The Xinhua News Agency subsequently published the information on its military website on the same day on November 1, 2006 and this is the only known official Chinese governmental acknowledgment on this matter, but neither the Russian general nor the Chinese reporters disclosed any information on whether the deal was direct purchase, license assembly or technology transfer, but simply stating that China had planned to "introduce Su-33".

*Russia has refused to sell its Su-33 carrier-based fighters to China over fears that Beijing could produce cheaper export versions of the aircraft, a Russian daily said on Tuesday. The Su-33 is a carrier-based multi-role fighter, which can perform a variety of air superiority, fleet defense, air support and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft entered service with the Russian Navy in 1995 and are currently deployed on board the Nikolai Kuznetsov aircraft carrier. Russian Su-33 naval fighters are significantly cheaper than any similar foreign models, such as the French Rafale-M, or the U.S F-35C or the F/A-22N Sea Raptor.

South Korea Eyes Fighter Jet For Landing Ship

South Korea Eyes Fighter Jet For Landing Ship

(NSI News Source Info) March 2, 2009: South Korea is looking at introducing the U.S. Lockheed Martin-built F-35B fighter variant, to fly from its 14,000-ton Dokdo large-deck landing ship, along with the F-35A air force version, as part of mid- and long-term force improvement plans, a source here said Sunday. The move comes as the country’s arms procurement agency, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), is preparing to open the third-phase F-X fighter acquisition program in the coming years, he said. DAPA said earlier that it would launch the next-phase F-X bid by 2011, with the aim of deploying the planes between 2014 and 2019. In a related event, a group of Pentagon officials gave a briefing on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program to DAPA officials in Seoul early last month at the request of the arms agency, said the source. “The agency is conducting preliminary research on the next-phase fighter acquisition program and collecting information about foreign fighters, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter,” the source told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. As for the JSF, which is under development, he said, the agency previously focused on the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant for the Air Force but is now thinking also about the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant for the Marine Corps or Navy. There will be another variant for the Navy, the F-35C, to fly from aircraft carriers. Japan, Israel and Taiwan are reportedly interested in the F-35B version. “The F-35B is a fifth generation fighter that will provide a quantum leap in capability, basing flexibility, and mission execution across the full spectrum of conflict,” a U.S. Marine Corps official said, asking not to be named. South Korea’s Navy launched its first Dokdo Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH 6111) in 2005 and wants to have one more Dokdo-class carriers by 2016. The 199-meter-long, 31-meter-wide vessel is the largest helicopter transporter in Asia and will serve as a light aircraft carrier to orchestrate the Korean Navy’s future strategic mobile squadron. Experts have said when the landing ship is equipped with a ski jump module, vertical or short takeoff and landing aircraft such as the Harrier or the F-35B will be able to be launched from the deck. Observers say the latest move appears to reflect Seoul’s strong interest in the JSF, also known as Lightening II, as a candidate for the upcoming F-X deal, for which Boeing’s F-15K NF III, Saab’s Gripen NG, Eurofighter’s Typhoon and others are also expected to compete. The F-X aims to equip the South Korean Air Force with 120 advanced high-end fighters by 2020 to replace its aging fighter fleet. The U.S. Boeing Company won South Korean orders for batches of 40 and 21 F-15s in two previous deals. Lockheed’s F-22 Raptor is also on the list of candidates, but chances for Seoul to buy the fifth-generation stealth fighter are slim due to financial and legal problems. U.S. technology protection law forbids the export of the world’s most advanced F-22s, whose per-unit cost is some $200 million. In that context, the F-35, with similar capabilities to those of the F-22, has often referred to as a viable candidate. The fifth-generation F-35, fitted with radar-evading stealth technology, is a single-seat, single-engine multi-role fighter jet that can perform close air support, tactical bombing and air defense missions. The price tag for the F-35A is about $60 million, while those for the F-35B and F-35C are expected to cost in the upper $80 to $90 million range, respectively, according to Lockheed Martin officials. The F-35B version is slated to enter service first with the U.S. Marines in 2012, followed by the F-35A in 2013 and the F-35C in 2015. The JSF development is being funded by nine major partners, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Denmark. The partners plan to acquire over 3,100 F-35s through 2035, according to reports. Lockheed officials say delivery of the conventional-takeoff-and-landing F-35A for South Korea would begin in 2014 if a contract is signed before 2010.