F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread

[Air Force Brat]

Excerpts from another F-35 article from the November 2012 issue of Air Force Magazine


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Air Force Magazine November 2012
John Tirpak

F-35 Race Against Time


Lockheed VP Stephen O’Bryan
Former F/A-18 pilot

On the issue of stealth
“The stealth of the production F-35, verified in radar cross section tests performed on classified western test ranges, is better than any aircraft other than the F-22.”

“the conductive materials needed to absorb and disperse incoming radar energy are baked directly into the aircraft’s multilayer composite skin and structure”

“Moreover, the surface material smoothes out over time, slightly reducing the F-35’s original radar signature”

“Only serious structural damage will disturb the F-35’s low observability”

“The repair and upkeep of low observables has been one of the F-22’s main maintenance drivers and that goes away with the F-35.”

Regarding engine radar signature
“The classified saw-tooth features that ring the nozzle help consolidate the [radar reflections] into a so-called “spike” signature, while other secret techniques have been employed to combat and minimize the engine heat signature.”

“Many of the standard fighter engine features such as a big afterburner spray bar assembly and related piping are missing from the F-35.”

On electronic warfare
“O’Bryan said the power of the F-35’s EW/DQ systems can be inferred from the fact that the Marine Corps is going to replace it’s EA-6B with a baseline F-35B.”

“Asked about the Air Force’s plans, O’Bryan answered with several rhetorical questions: “Are they investing in a big jammer fleet? Are they buying Growlers?”

“O’Bryan went on to say that the F-35’s EW capability “is as good as, or better than any fourth generation airplane specifically built for that purpose.”

“[The F-35] uses machine-to-machine communications with other F-35s. Emitters such as the radar and the electronic warfare system can flash on and off among all the F-35s in a flight.”


Performance
“The Air Force F-35 variant, fully loaded for combat, can pull nine-G turns and with a full load of fuel and missiles. This cannot be done by fighters lugging along external weapons and fuel tanks.”

“Because it was designed to maneuver to the edge of its’ envelope with a full internal combat load, the F-35 will be able to run rings around most other fighters, but it probably won’t have to---and probably shouldn’t.”

“If the situation demands a turning dogfight, however, the F-35 evidently will be able to hold its’ own with any fighter. That is a reflection on the fighter’s agility. What’s more, a potential future upgrade foresees the F-35 increasing its’ air-to-air missile loadout from its’ current four AIM-120 AMRAAMs to six of those weapons.”

“The F-35, while not technically a supercruising aircraft can maintain Mach 1.2 for a dash of 150 miles without using fuel-gulping afterburners.”

“In combat configuration, the F-35’s range exceeds that of fourth generation fighters by 25 percent. These are Air Force figures O’Bryan noted. We’re comparing the F-35 to the best of the fourth gen fighters. The F-35 compares favorably in any area of the envelope.”
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I know I saw a video somewhere with a test pilot mentioning F-35s using their stealth against other fighters and never being seen. Despite the talk of stealth being rendered ineffective by new radar technology, it seems that it remains a dominant factor. The Air Force "Red Baron" study conducted way back when still holds true. Shooting someone in the back who never knew you were there is still the best way to win.

Let me point out, this is an OLD article, written by John Tirpak for AFM, he is quoting LockMart VP Stephen O'Bryan, this is archived and it is solid gold, but the Brat has been reminding you just how many Gs this girl could and would pull for how long??? and that its stealth was top tier and very relevant to todays combat situation, is it fast?? NO, but 1.2 mach for about 6 minutes without afterburner is long enough to "exit zone right"?? and, aaaaannnnndddddd? it is stealthier than anything save a Raptor, all that with a full internal combat load-out is very awesome, and it is a winning combination, if you don't trust me, trust John H. Tirpak, or Stephan O'Bryan??? yes it is very good?

 

[Air Force Brat]

There you go gentlemen, the F-35 will be there for ya, the A-10 may not be, according to the Marine aviator, that is why the F-35 is the priority, and is bumping those legacy platforms off the day one, first in assignments. All those legacy aircraft are actually given increased effectiveness when censor fused with the F-35, but as I continue to remind, the air defense environment is very dangerous, and it will only get more so as many of these very effective systems proliferate.

He also gives several off-hand endorsements of the F-22, it is very fast, and very maneuverable, as well as leading the way to the fifth gen revolution, and to be very honest, there are likely places the F-22 will go, that the F-35 probably won't due to the extremely high performance of the Raptor, but the F-35 will bring thing to the battle front that will be revolutionary as well as transformational to air warfare.

So

 

[Jura The idiot]

found this vid a moment ago (dated 10. 6. 2015:
Inflight Refueling: KC-135 Stratotanker To F-35 Lightning II

 

[FORBIN]

Italian F-35 bases deployment plan with 90 buy purchased :

1/ In 2016 4A to Luke for training after join Italy
2/ In 2017 some B to Beaufort with OCU after join Italy
2/ Amendola, 32th Stormo* begin use A about 2017 have now 2 Gruppo with 40 AMX.
3/ Grottaglie, Navy CAW begin use B in 2018, have now 12 AV-8 B+ and 2 TAV-8 B planned 15 F-35B.
4/ After Ghedi 6th Stormo begin use A in 2019 + have now 3 Gruppo with 60 Tornado IDS

Presumably futur F-35 sqn will more small with 15 fighters vs 20 actually.
* Stormo : Wing, Gruppo : Sqn

 

[Jura The idiot]

Italian F-35 bases deployment plan with 90 buy purchased :

...
3/ Grottaglie, Navy CAW begin use B in 2018, have now 12 AV-8 B+ and 2 TAV-8 B planned 15 F-35B.
...

you can try to imagine them right now

 

[Jura The idiot]

Hope we get some really excellent pictures of this.

using google a moment ago I found the article; no pictures yet:
Nellis-based F-35 fighters debut in simulated combat

The Air Force’s newest fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II, is taking a star turn in an ongoing air combat training exercise over the Army Combat Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

The Air Force has used aircraft equipped with F-35 sensors in past exercises, but this will be the first time that more “operationally representative” aircraft take part, Air Combat Command Gen. Herbert Carlisle said Monday after an Air Force Association event.

The Green Flag West exercise, staged in part by Nellis Air Force Base, aims to expose weapons and pilots to more real-world battle scenarios. They are particularly important for fine-tuning coordination between between pilots and troops on the ground who pinpoint air strike targets.

Two F-35s from the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., are participating in the simulated air-to-ground battle, Nellis spokesman Master Sgt. Sanjay Allen said Tuesday. He said the Green Flag West 15-8 exercise began Friday and will run through June 12.

Allen said the F-35s are not dropping weapons in the close air-support exercise administered by the U.S. Air Force Air Warfare Center and Nellis through the 549th Combat Training Squadron.

One or two F-35 A-model jets will participate in the daily exercises along with F-16 fighter planes, A-10 gunships and other weapons, said Lt. Col. Cameron Dadgar, commander of the 549th at Nellis.

“This is the first time that the F-35 will be the primary player in this exercise,” Dadgar told Reuters news service.

The exercise includes about 5,000 U.S. military personnel with land, sea and ground forces facing a generic “near peer” enemy with resources and capabilities comparable to China or Russia, he said.

Lockheed is developing three models of the aircraft for the U.S. military and 11 other nations. U.S. officials say the $391 billion weapons program — the Pentagon’s most expensive — has met or exceeded performance and cost targets since a major restructuring in 2011.

Nellis received its first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter on Jan. 15. It is being used by a cadre of experienced pilots for doctorate-level training to develop and validate the combat tactics playbook for the high-tech fighter.

The F-35A can fly at 1½ times the speed of sound, fire air-to-air missiles, drop GPS and laser-guided bombs, and has a 25 mm cannon. Cameras on the aircraft give pilots a 360-degree view on their helmet visors.

Four F-35 Lightning IIs are currently assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, a tenant squadron at Nellis that is part of the 53rd Wing in Florida. Nellis is expected to have 36 for testing and training by 2020. The U.S. fleet of F-35s has about 100 planes among the Air Force, Navy and Marines.

source:

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[Broccoli]

According to rumors F-35 is favorite of the air force people and most people think it's likely winner in Finnish competition to replace Hornet. YLE what is Finnish state owned broadcasting company also speculated that F-35 is going to win... to me it seems that decision is already made.

At this point only thing what is uncertain is what variant Finland is going to buy in 2021.

 

[FORBIN]

 

[Air Force Brat]

According to rumors F-35 is favorite of the air force people and most people think it's likely winner in Finnish competition to replace Hornet. YLE what is Finnish state owned broadcasting company also speculated that F-35 is going to win... to me it seems that decision is already made.

At this point only thing what is uncertain is what variant Finland is going to buy in 2021.

well master Broccoli what would be your preferred variant sir, feel free to choose any of the three, the AFB is giving you carte'blanch? oh and you remind me I have three stalks of broccoli in the garden that I should go cut.

enjoying a burger off the barbq, au natural, broccoli is boiling on the stove, wish you were all here! any way back on topic, more than likely Finland will opt for the A, which is a heck of an airplane in its own right, the F-35 has much closer tolerances than the F-22 and that should make for a very robust airframe! and even though I LOVE the C, which I am saving my pennies for, I would opt for the A if I had to deal with bad guys, that gun, and those 9 G pulls should make short work of nearly anything?

 

[Broccoli]

I'm fairly sure it's going to be F-35A since it's cheapest and has inter gun and it's usually mentioned as favorite when speaking about different variants.

Most important thing with F-35 is that it has good future ahead of it and Finland can be sure that large country like US is flying it for decades to come.