F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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The U.S. is preparing for its first and only operational testing (OT) period for the in advance of declaring initial operational capability for the stealthy, single-engine fighter as early as July.
The trials – set for May 18-25 – are the first shipboard operational testing trials for any of the F-35 variants. Six F-35Bs from VMFA-121 and VMFAT-501 are slated to participate on the trials off the Atlantic coast on the USS Wasp, according to Maj. Paul Greenberg, a Marine Corps spokesman. This will be the first time six of the aircraft have been deployed to sea on the same ship at once. Operators will assess the ability of the fighter to function not only on takeoff and landing, but also in navigating around the deck and in the belly of the ship, where maintenance operations take place.
“This exercise will evaluate the full spectrum of F-35B measures of suitability and effectiveness to the maximum extent possible,” Greenberg says. “Specifically, the trial will assess the integration of the F-35B while operating across the array of flight operations, maintenance operations and logistical supply chain support while embarked at sea.” The Wasp, an amphibious assault ship, was also used for the F-35B’s first developmental testing sea trials; the first F-35B vertical landing took place on its deck in October 2011.
During the trials, the Marines plan to execute numerous day and night short takeoffs and landings and conduct “standard” day and night extended range operations, Greenberg says. Also part of the testing will be an assessment of the aircraft-to-ship network communications interoperability as well as the efficacy of the landing signals officer’s launch-and-recovery software.
Though Greenberg says operators will assess day and night weapons loading, no live fire testing is slated; most live fire activities are handled for the program by the test force at Edwards AFB, California.
The six aircraft used in the OT-1 trials will operate with the 2B software package, which was not originally intended for operational use. However, delays earlier in the program prompted the Marine Corps to prioritize 2B, which allows for use with limited weapons, with no external weapons stations approved. Marine Corps officials say the aircraft will provide better capability than the F-18s and AV-8Bs they are intended to replace.
Though operating with the 2B software, the operational test team will not be able to fly with the software patch designed by engineers to improve ship-to-ship “sight picture” sharing. As part of the F-35’s so-called data fusion attribute, the aircraft are required to share targeting data among themselves using their Multifunction Advanced Datalinks, which can operate covertly to preserve the aircrafts’ stealthy characteristics in high threat environments.
However, the OT series is more geared to demonstrating sortie generation and maintenance tempo. Ship-to-ship targeting is not expected during the trials.
Test pilots at Edwards had reported problems with targets on the cockpit display associated with more than one symbol, a sign the system has not fully “fused” the data collected on that target from multiple F-35s. In some other cases, wingmen are not seeing the same objects other pilots are in multi-ship formations.
Program officials opted earlier this year to move forward to develop the software patch to correct the deficiency; they created the code in 22 days, according to Joe Dellavedova, F-35 spokesman.
Marine Corps officials say they are confident the 2B package will be sufficient for IOC in July; F-35 test officials hope to have the patch ready for the Marine Corps IOC, however.
The F-35B is slated for its first deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, in 2017. Separate ship trials are slated for the F-35C on an aircraft carrier this fall.
The trials – set for May 18-25 – are the first shipboard operational testing trials for any of the F-35 variants. Six F-35Bs from VMFA-121 and VMFAT-501 are slated to participate on the trials off the Atlantic coast on the USS Wasp, according to Maj. Paul Greenberg, a Marine Corps spokesman. This will be the first time six of the aircraft have been deployed to sea on the same ship at once. Operators will assess the ability of the fighter to function not only on takeoff and landing, but also in navigating around the deck and in the belly of the ship, where maintenance operations take place.
“This exercise will evaluate the full spectrum of F-35B measures of suitability and effectiveness to the maximum extent possible,” Greenberg says. “Specifically, the trial will assess the integration of the F-35B while operating across the array of flight operations, maintenance operations and logistical supply chain support while embarked at sea.” The Wasp, an amphibious assault ship, was also used for the F-35B’s first developmental testing sea trials; the first F-35B vertical landing took place on its deck in October 2011.
During the trials, the Marines plan to execute numerous day and night short takeoffs and landings and conduct “standard” day and night extended range operations, Greenberg says. Also part of the testing will be an assessment of the aircraft-to-ship network communications interoperability as well as the efficacy of the landing signals officer’s launch-and-recovery software.
Though Greenberg says operators will assess day and night weapons loading, no live fire testing is slated; most live fire activities are handled for the program by the test force at Edwards AFB, California.
The six aircraft used in the OT-1 trials will operate with the 2B software package, which was not originally intended for operational use. However, delays earlier in the program prompted the Marine Corps to prioritize 2B, which allows for use with limited weapons, with no external weapons stations approved. Marine Corps officials say the aircraft will provide better capability than the F-18s and AV-8Bs they are intended to replace.
Though operating with the 2B software, the operational test team will not be able to fly with the software patch designed by engineers to improve ship-to-ship “sight picture” sharing. As part of the F-35’s so-called data fusion attribute, the aircraft are required to share targeting data among themselves using their Multifunction Advanced Datalinks, which can operate covertly to preserve the aircrafts’ stealthy characteristics in high threat environments.
However, the OT series is more geared to demonstrating sortie generation and maintenance tempo. Ship-to-ship targeting is not expected during the trials.
Test pilots at Edwards had reported problems with targets on the cockpit display associated with more than one symbol, a sign the system has not fully “fused” the data collected on that target from multiple F-35s. In some other cases, wingmen are not seeing the same objects other pilots are in multi-ship formations.
Program officials opted earlier this year to move forward to develop the software patch to correct the deficiency; they created the code in 22 days, according to Joe Dellavedova, F-35 spokesman.
Marine Corps officials say they are confident the 2B package will be sufficient for IOC in July; F-35 test officials hope to have the patch ready for the Marine Corps IOC, however.
The F-35B is slated for its first deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, in 2017. Separate ship trials are slated for the F-35C on an aircraft carrier this fall.
First F-35A combat sqn is 4th FS to Hill, 388th FW actually on F-16C/D bl 40, Hill have two F-16 sqns planned three on F-35A.
Maintainers obtained by the removal in BAI ( stay in fleet, support founded but no flight ) of 18 A-10C, 3 in five FS and a WS.
Realy strange the more big AF have need retired aicrafts for get maintainers.
Maintainers obtained by the removal in BAI ( stay in fleet, support founded but no flight ) of 18 A-10C, 3 in five FS and a WS.
Realy strange the more big AF have need retired aicrafts for get maintainers.
Of course there are problems. it is cutting edge technology and will require a lot of effort and cost to get right.
Many members on the various House and Senate committees know this...some of the younger ones are just learning what it takes...and they are surprised.
I am not minimizing the effort it is going to take to get this software to work right. As I said, it will be costly in money and in time.
But it will also pay for itself many, many times over through the life of the program once it is.
This is what it takes to bring cutting edge systems (be they active, passive, airframes, stealth, sensors, communication, or software for maintenance) forward.
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Please...read the rules.
One liner drive by shooters are not allowed on SD.
Do a LOT more research yourself and you will find (obviously) that is does a lot more. Jeez.
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Spoken clearly by someone who has not been involved with the code, and is clearly oversimplifying the issue.
Come on Thunder...you are better than this.
You seriously want to compare what this code is doing for a 5th generation stealth strike fighter to a commercial car's self-diagnostics?
SD is more professional than that. I am letting it pass this time because you are such a long time member, but you know better.
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Guys, keep it professional and applicable.
I will delete over dramatic, over simplified analogies and arguments that do not apply and the resulting discussion about them.
Those are the definition of "USELESS ARGUEMENTS,." spoken of in the rules.
If you have a serious comment to make...make it. Then back it up with something at least somehow credible.
But these one liner drive by commenbts, or the ridiculous comparisons are not what we at SD want to be out there representing the forum.
DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MODEREATION
I will delete over dramatic, over simplified analogies and arguments that do not apply and the resulting discussion about them.
Those are the definition of "USELESS ARGUEMENTS,." spoken of in the rules.
If you have a serious comment to make...make it. Then back it up with something at least somehow credible.
But these one liner drive by commenbts, or the ridiculous comparisons are not what we at SD want to be out there representing the forum.
DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MODEREATION
thunderchief
Senior Member
I hope I'm not breaking moderation rules, but I would seriously want to know what this F-35 maintenance and self-diagnostic application does, that makes it so much different from existing self-diagnostic tools for let's say commercial passenger planes . From what could be found on the net, it doesn't sound ground-braking at all .
As it stands, it's all shrouded in mystery with explanations like "you stupid serfs are too ignorant to understand this" , and I don't buy that . Again, I hope I'm not breaking moderation rules and would like to hear professional reasoning for complexity of the system .
Asking what it does breaks no rules, Thunder.
Of course it is shrouded in secrecy. This is a brand new, cutting edge 5th generation military aircraft. Not putting how things like this work in the public domain does not pass a message about "being stupid or ignorant to understand it," at all. It just keeps it from those who would use it to improve their own systems and do us harm.
The software that is built to help maintain and self diagnose its operation is going to be reporting on systems that are intrinsic to that aircraft. The US is not going to advertise either how those systems work, exactly what they all are, or how it goes bout writing software that will give the US an edge in battling anyone who might threaten us.
That's pretty straight forward and easy to understand.
You may not agree with it...and that is fine. But is the reason.